President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, 22 June 2026 conferred Padma Awards 2026 upon 65 distinguished personalities during the second round of the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The awardees span fields ranging from arts and medicine to civil service and sports, marking one of the highest civilian honours the Indian state bestows.

Who Received the Honours

Among the prominent recipients were former Union Minister Shibu Soren, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, renowned paediatrician Dr Armida Fernandez, educator Professor Mangala Kapoor, actor Mammootty, and singer Alka Yagnik. Civil servant RVS Mani and social worker Brijlal Bhatt were also among those felicitated. The honours spanned categories including arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, literature, education, sports, and civil service.

Awardees Share Their Reactions

Vijay Amritraj, who received the Padma Bhushan, described the moment as deeply significant. 'I feel truly honoured. I am extremely excited and happy about this magnificent honour from the Government of India. It is a matter of pride for me. Padma Awards are very special. Receiving the Padma Bhushan at this stage of my career is truly significant,' he said. He also expressed gratitude to the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the people of India for supporting his career. Amritraj called for early identification of sporting talent at the grassroots level and urged that government support for sports cascade from the national level down to every state.

RVS Mani, honoured with the Padma Shri for civil service, said receiving the award in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah would be a proud moment. He noted that on numerous occasions he had discharged his duties honestly while standing firm for the truth, and said the government had recognised his integrity through this honour.

Dr Armida Fernandez, awarded the Padma Shri in the field of health, said it was commendable when the government encourages good work. She emphasised that the honour belonged not just to her but to everyone who helped her reach this milestone, and acknowledged the significant difficulties she faced in the early stages of her career.

Voices of Resilience

Professor Mangala Kapoor called the Padma Shri a momentous honour for a woman like herself. She spoke of her work for the differently-abled and recounted the struggles she endured following an acid attack, noting that society had distanced itself from her — yet she never abandoned her fight. Her story stands as one of the ceremony's most striking examples of personal resilience recognised by the state.

Brijlal Bhatt, who has dedicated his life to social service and cultural preservation and hails from a village in Jammu and Kashmir, said it was natural to feel pride when the President confers an honour in the presence of the Prime Minister and senior dignitaries. Having pursued agriculture as a career and held key positions across various departments, Bhatt said he finds great fulfilment in his work.

Significance of the Ceremony

The Padma Awards — comprising Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — are announced every year on Republic Day and conferred through investiture ceremonies held subsequently at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Tuesday's event was the second such round for the 2026 cycle. The breadth of disciplines represented this year reflects the government's stated intent to recognise achievement across a wide social and professional spectrum. With the honours now formally conferred, attention turns to whether the recognition translates into sustained institutional support for the fields these awardees represent.