Padma award ceremony organized

Delhi: President Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday honored 65 prominent personalities including tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, actors Mammootty, Satish Shah, cricketer Rohit Sharma and playback singer Alka Yagnik with the prestigious Padma awards.

This honor was given at the second civil honor ceremony organized at the Republic Pavilion of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President awarded Padma Vibhushan to former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas for public service and Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan for his contribution to literature and education.

Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awards

Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, American doctor Dattatreyadu Nori, tennis player Vijay Amritraj, industrialist SKM Maelanandan and social worker and educationist V Natesan were awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Rupi Soren, wife of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren, received the Padma Bhushan award on behalf of the late leader. The President honored cricketer Rohit Sharma and hockey player Savita Punia with Padma Shri. India won the last T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.

Distinguished individuals honored

Vladimir Mestvirishvili, coach of Olympic medal winners Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Ravi Dahiya, was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri. His wife accepted the honor on his behalf.

In this function, Vice President C.P. Many dignitaries including Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended. Nagaland’s 83-year-old folk artist Guru Sangyusang Pongener entered the ceremony in his traditional Naga attire, drawing loud applause from the audience. He was also awarded Padma Shri.

Categories of Padma Awards

The President posthumously awarded Padma Shri to actor Satish Shah. His brother accepted the honor on his behalf. Former Chief Executive of Prasar Bharati Shashi Shekhar Vempati was also honored with Padma Shri by the President.

Dalit writer Ashok Kumar Halder, who wrote inspirational literature while a railway guard, Ranjani and Gayatri for Carnatic music, actor Anil Kumar Rastogi and Professor Mahendra Nath Roy were also awarded the Padma Shri. On the eve of Republic Day, the government had announced 131 Padma awards for the year 2026, including five Padma Vibhushan awards.

Padma awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. These awards are given for contributions in various fields, including arts, social service, science, business, medicine, literature, sports etc.