Padma Awards 2026: Ceremony Highlights And Full List of Recipients Across Fields

President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma awards to 66 recipients at the first civil investiture ceremony for 2026, held at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Late actor Dharmendra, advertising figure late Piyush Pandey, former UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and Indian womens cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur were among the most recognised names honoured during the event.The awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day and cover a wide range of work. Recipients are chosen from fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service. The Padma awards are considered among the country rsquo;s highest civilian honours.Padma awards highlight 2026 list and overall numbersFor 2026, President Droupadi Murmu approved a total of 131 Padma awards.

The list includes five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri honours. Of these, 66 awardees received their insignia at this first ceremony, while the remaining recipients will be honoured during a second round to be held later, according to news agency PTI, citing sources.The Padma Vibhushan list featured late Dharmendra, recognised for decades of work in Indian cinema, along with Dr. N. Rajam.

In the Padma Bhushan category, late Piyush Pandey was honoured for contributions to advertising, while Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy featured on the list. Padma Shri awards went to individuals from diverse regions and disciplines, reflecting a wide national spread.Padma awards ceremony moments and key attendeesThe ceremony drew several senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vice president CP Radhakrishnan and Union home minister Amit Shah. A notable moment came when MP Hema Malini, described as teary eyed, received the Padma Vibhushan on behalf of late actor Dharmendra.

The formal function followed the usual Rashtrapati Bhavan protocol for civil investiture events.Among Padma Shri recipients were Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar for literature and education, K Pajanivel for traditional martial arts and Satyanarayan Nuwal, Solar Group chairman, for the defence manufacturing ecosystem. Senior journalist Kailash Chandra Pantenior, Paralympic gold medallist Praveen Kumar and Indian womens cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur were also honoured in this category.The government rsquo;s list also included R. Krishnan Kitna (posthumous), Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch, HV Hande, Gafaruddin Mewati Jogi, Mir Haji Kasam, Raghuvir Khedkar and actor Prosenjit Chatterjee. Others were Devaki Amma G, Ramchandra Godbole and Suneeta Godbole as a duo, Techi Gubin, Ratilal Mohanlal Borisagar, Kumar Bose, Janardan Bapurao Bothe, Swami Brahamdev and Bishwa Bandhu (posthumous).Further Padma Shri awardees were Bharat Singh Bharti, Taga Ram Bheel, Shatavadhani Dr.

R. Ganesh, former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, banker Uday Sureshkumar Kotak and late Vijay Kumar Malhotra (posthumous). The spread of names across arts, public life, finance, literature and social work underlined the broad criteria used each year for the selection of Padma award recipients.See full list of winners here:NameAwardField / DescriptionMamidala Jagadesh KumarPadma ShriLiterature and Education; former UGC ChairmanK PajanivelPadma ShriTraditional martial artsSatyanarayan NuwalPadma ShriDefence manufacturing ecosystem; Solar Group chairmanKailash Chandra PanteniorPadma ShriSenior journalistPraveen KumarPadma ShriParalympic gold medallistHarmanpreet KaurPadma ShriIndian womens cricket team captainR. Krishnan KitnaPadma ShriPosthumousProf. (Dr.) Lars-Christian KochPadma ShriField not specified in listHV HandePadma ShriField not specified in listGafaruddin Mewati JogiPadma ShriField not specified in listMir Haji KasamPadma ShriField not specified in listRaghuvir KhedkarPadma ShriField not specified in listProsenjit ChatterjeePadma ShriFilm and entertainmentDevaki Amma GPadma ShriField not specified in listRamchandra Godbole Suneeta GodbolePadma ShriDuo; field not specified in listTechi GubinPadma ShriField not specified in listRatilal Mohanlal BorisagarPadma ShriField not specified in listKumar BosePadma ShriField not specified in listJanardan Bapurao BothePadma ShriField not specified in listSwami BrahamdevPadma ShriField not specified in listBishwa BandhuPadma ShriPosthumousBharat Singh BhartiPadma ShriField not specified in listTaga Ram BheelPadma ShriField not specified in listShatavadhani Dr.

R. GaneshPadma ShriField not specified in listBhagat Singh KoshyariPadma ShriPublic affairs; former governorUday Sureshkumar KotakPadma ShriFinance and industryVijay Kumar MalhotraPadma ShriPosthumousLate DharmendraPadma VibhushanLegendary actorDr. N. RajamPadma VibhushanField not specified in listLate Piyush PandeyPadma BhushanAdvertising legendDr.

Kallipatti Ramasamy PalaniswamyPadma BhushanField not specified in listThe first Padma awards ceremony for 2026 therefore recognised 66 individuals, with the remainder to be honoured later. With Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan recipients drawn from varied professions and regions, the awards list for this year reflected the government rsquo;s continued practice of acknowledging service across many areas of national life.