President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 25 May conferred the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — on legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra (posthumously) and classical violinist Dr N. Rajam at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The ceremony also saw Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards conferred on distinguished individuals across fields ranging from cricket and banking to medicine and literature.

Dharmendra and Dr N. Rajam Receive Padma Vibhushan

Popularly known as the 'He-Man of Bollywood', Dharmendra was honoured for his exceptional contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning six decades and more than 300 films. His memorable roles in classics such as Bandini, Satyakam, and Sholay remain benchmarks of Hindi cinema. He also served as a Member of Parliament from Bikaner between 2004 and 2009. Dharmendra passed away on 24 November 2025; the award was received on his behalf by his wife and sitting Member of Parliament Hema Malini.

Dr N. Rajam, born in Ernakulam in 1939, was recognised for pioneering the 'Gayaki Ang' style of violin playing — a technique that recreates the nuances of vocal music on the instrument — earning her the title of the 'Singing Violin' worldwide. Trained under masters of both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, she spent decades on the faculty of Banaras Hindu University, nurturing generations of musicians. She had previously received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Sangeet Natak Akademi honours.

Padma Bhushan: Uday Kotak, Bhagat Singh Koshyari Among Recipients

Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, was awarded the Padma Bhushan for transforming India's banking sector. Starting from modest beginnings in 1985, Kotak built one of India's leading private financial institutions and contributed to corporate governance reforms and philanthropy focused on underprivileged communities.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari — affectionately called 'Bhagat Da' — was recognised for decades of work in education, rural development, and public service. He began his career as a teacher before rising to become Chief Minister, a Member of Parliament, and later Governor of Maharashtra. He is particularly noted for expanding educational access in remote Himalayan regions.

Scholar and Avadhana exponent R. Ganesh received the Padma Bhushan for reviving the ancient literary performance art of Avadhana in Kannada and Sanskrit. He has performed over 1,300 Ashtavadhanas and several Shatavadhanas, contributing significantly to literature, theatre, dance, and philosophy.

Eminent gastroenterologist Dr Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy was honoured for more than four decades of medical service, research, and rural healthcare outreach in Tamil Nadu. Advertising legend Piyush Pandey — creator of iconic campaigns including 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and 'Do Boond Zindagi Ki' — and former parliamentarian and sports administrator Vijay Kumar Malhotra were both honoured posthumously, with family members receiving the awards.

Padma Shri: Harmanpreet Kaur, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Praveen Kumar Recognised

Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was among the most prominent Padma Shri recipients, recognised for her contribution to women's cricket and her role in inspiring young athletes across the country. Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, para-athlete Praveen Kumar, and former CRPF Director General K. Vijay Kumar were also conferred the Padma Shri. Other recipients included classical musician Kumar Bose, artists Deepika Reddy and A. E. Muthunayagam, and writers Sivasankari and Shafi Shauq.

Several awards were conferred posthumously in this category as well, with families of recipients including Bishwa Bandhu, Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay, Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, and Yumnam Jatra Singh accepting the honours.

Ceremony and Scale of 2026 Padma Awards

The investiture ceremony was held at the Gantantra Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan and opened with an instrumental rendition of 'Vande Mataram' followed by the national anthem. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among the dignitaries in attendance.

For 2026, President Murmu approved a total of 131 Padma Awards — comprising 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honours — to be presented across two separate Civil Investiture Ceremonies. Announced annually on Republic Day, the Padma Awards recognise excellence in fields spanning art, science, medicine, sports, literature, education, social work, and civil service. This year's list, once again, reflects the breadth of India's talent from every region and discipline.