Padma Awards 2026: President Murmu to honour 65 awardees today at Rashtrapati Bhawan
Synopsis
President Droupadi Murmu's second Padma investiture of 2026 brings together an unusually diverse set of honourees — from a posthumous Padma Bhushan for JMM founder Shibu Soren to international recipients from the US, Russia, and Georgia. With 130 awards conferred across two ceremonies, the 2026 cycle underscores India's broadening definition of distinguished civilian service.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu will confer 65 Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 23 June 2026 at 5 pm IST .
The ceremony includes 2 Padma Vibhushan , 7 Padma Bhushan , and 56 Padma Shri awards.
Former Union Minister Shibu Soren (JMM founder) receives a posthumous Padma Bhushan ; other Padma Bhushan recipients include Mammootty , Alka Yagnik , and Vijay Amritraj .
Four foreign nationals — two Americans, one Russian, one Georgian — are among the awardees.
The First Civil Investiture Ceremony was held on 25 May 2026 , where another 65 awards were conferred.
PM Narendra Modi , VP C.P.
Radhakrishnan , and Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the ceremony.
President Droupadi Murmu will confer 65 Padma Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, beginning at 5 pm IST. The ceremony will honour distinguished recipients including former Union Minister Shibu Soren (posthumous), tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, Malayalam actor Mammootty, and playback singer Alka Yagnik.
Key Awardees at Ceremony-II
The second ceremony will see the conferral of two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. P. Narayanan and Justice (retd.) K.T. Thomas will receive the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — for Literature and Education, and Public Affairs, respectively.
The Padma Bhushan recipients include Shibu Soren, founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Union Minister, honoured posthumously; Vijay Amritraj for Sports; S.K.M. Maeilanandhan; Mammootty for Arts; Vellappally Natesan; Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori of the United States for Medicine; and Alka Yagnik for Arts.
International Recipients
The 2026 list notably includes four foreign nationals — two Americans, one Russian, and one Georgian. Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori (US) receives the Padma Bhushan for Medicine, while Professor Prateek Sharma (US) is awarded the Padma Shri in the same field. Liudmila Khokhlova of Russia has been selected for the Padma Shri in Literature and Education, and Vladimer Mestvirishvili of Georgia will be posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for Sports.
What the Awards Represent
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours conferred by the Government of India, announced annually on Republic Day. They are awarded across disciplines including art, social work, science and engineering, medicine, literature, sports, and civil service. Padma Vibhushan recognises exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan marks distinguished service of a high order; and Padma Shri honours distinguished service in any field.
First Ceremony and Dignitaries Present
This is the second of two investiture ceremonies this cycle. President Murmu had already conferred 65 Padma Awards — including two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri — at the First Civil Investiture Ceremony held on 25 May 2026. Tuesday's ceremony will be attended by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other Union Ministers and dignitaries. Professor Mahendra Nath Roy from West Bengal is among the Padma Shri recipients for Science and Engineering in this ceremony.
Point of View
Not just domestic recognition. The posthumous Padma Bhushan for Shibu Soren, a long-time regional heavyweight, arrives after his death and carries unmistakable political symbolism in a Jharkhand still navigating coalition arithmetic. Meanwhile, the back-to-back investiture format across May and June, conferring 130 awards in two tranches, raises a quiet question about whether the scale of the list dilutes the exclusivity the awards are meant to project.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the key Padma Bhushan awardees at the 23 June 2026 ceremony?
The Padma Bhushan awardees at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II include Shibu Soren (posthumous), Vijay Amritraj, Mammootty, Alka Yagnik, S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, Vellappally Natesan, and Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori. Soren, the JMM founder and former Union Minister, is being honoured posthumously.
What is the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II for Padma Awards 2026?
It is the second of two formal ceremonies at which President Droupadi Murmu personally confers Padma Awards for 2026. Held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 23 June 2026, it covers 65 awards — 2 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri. The first ceremony was held on 25 May 2026.
Which foreign nationals are receiving Padma Awards in 2026?
Four foreign nationals are among the awardees: Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori and Professor Prateek Sharma from the United States, Liudmila Khokhlova from Russia (Padma Shri, Literature and Education), and Vladimer Mestvirishvili from Georgia (posthumous Padma Shri, Sports).
When are Padma Awards announced and what are the three categories?
Padma Awards are announced on Republic Day each year. The three categories are Padma Vibhushan (exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of high order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service in any field). They cover disciplines from art and medicine to sports and civil service.
Who will attend the Padma Awards ceremony on 23 June 2026?
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other Union Ministers and dignitaries are scheduled to attend the ceremony, which begins at 5 pm IST at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
