Sri Vijaya Puram, May 26: India conferred its highest civilian honours on 66 individuals across diverse fields during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony for 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a broad recognition of contributions spanning arts, medicine, public service and grassroots work.
The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on May 25, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior Union Ministers, highlighting national acknowledgement of excellence across disciplines.
The ceremony underscored a wide spectrum of contributions, bringing together prominent public figures as well as lesser-known practitioners from rural and regional backgrounds. The honours reflected an emphasis on traditional knowledge systems, regional art forms, folk music, education and community-driven service.
Among the highest honours, the Padma Vibhushan was awarded posthumously to actor Dharmendra Singh Deol for his contribution to Indian cinema. Classical violinist Dr N. Rajam was also conferred the same award for her work in Indian classical music.
The Padma Bhushan category included recipients such as former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, banker Uday Kotak, gastroenterologist Dr Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy, advertising professional Piyush Pandey (posthumous), and political leader Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (posthumous).
The Padma Shri honours were awarded to more than 50 individuals from diverse sectors, including folk music, literature, medicine, education and entrepreneurship. Recipients included Rajasthan-based folk artist Taga Ram Bheel, devotional musician N. Swaminathan, cardiologist Prof Saroj Mandal, writer Prof Shafi Shauq and industrialist Satyanarayan Nandlal Nuwal.
The awards also recognised practitioners in classical dance, education, social work and indigenous cultural preservation. Several honours were conferred posthumously, acknowledging lifelong contributions across different fields.
A notable aspect of the ceremony was the inclusion of individuals preserving traditional and regional cultural practices, particularly those operating outside mainstream platforms. The recognition extended to contributors from non-metropolitan regions, highlighting grassroots-level impact.
The Padma Awards are presented annually in three categories, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, to honour exceptional service in various disciplines. The awards aim to acknowledge both national-level achievements and contributions that have had a significant local or community impact.
Officials indicated that this ceremony marked the first phase of the Civil Investiture Ceremony for 2026. The remaining awardees are expected to receive their honours in subsequent ceremonies scheduled later in the year.
The event reinforced the role of civil honours in recognising a broad cross-section of contributions shaping India’s cultural, social and professional landscape, while maintaining a balance between prominent figures and grassroots contributors.
