Rijiju shares live stream of Padma Awards 2026 Ceremony II
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, shared a live broadcast of the Padma Awards 2026 Civil Investiture Ceremony-II, in which President Droupadi Murmu personally conferred the honours on recipients at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
Context
The post, shared at 5:15 PM IST, directed followers to a live stream of the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, tagging the official handle @rashtrapatibhvn. President Droupadi Murmu, who has presided over all civilian investiture ceremonies since assuming office in July 2022, presented the awards in person. She is the first tribal woman to hold the office of President of India.
Civil Investiture Ceremony-II is one of several such events held across the year, allowing the President to honour Padma recipients in smaller groups rather than a single large gathering. This format ensures a more personal interaction between the head of state and each awardee.
Policy Backdrop
The Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honours, instituted by the Government of India in 1954. They are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — recognising distinguished service in fields such as art, literature, science, public affairs, sports, and social work.
By convention, the awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day each year and presented subsequently through multiple investiture ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This practice has remained consistent across successive governments, reflecting the state's enduring commitment to recognising non-political contributions from across Indian society.
Stakeholders and Impact
The ceremonies directly honour Padma awardees drawn from civil society — artists, scientists, educators, athletes, social workers, and others who have made distinguished contributions in their respective fields. The multiple-ceremony format spreads recognition across a broader cross-section of recipients and allows for greater public and media attention on each cohort.
Rijiju's decision to amplify the live stream reflects the government's broader use of social media to extend the reach of state ceremonial events to citizens who cannot attend in person. The post underscores the participatory dimension that digital platforms have added to India's republican protocol.
What's Next
Further Civil Investiture Ceremonies for the Padma Awards 2026 cycle are expected to follow at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the coming weeks, with remaining recipients to be honoured by President Murmu. The next major milestone in the awards calendar will be the announcement of Padma Awards 2027 on the eve of Republic Day, January 26, 2027, continuing a tradition that has run unbroken for over seven decades.