President Droupadi Murmu awarded Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri to 66 distinguished individuals at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony for 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony honored achievers from various fields including public affairs, arts, literature, medicine, business, social service, and grassroots cultural traditions.
The event, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other Ministers, celebrated a diverse group of achievers from across India. Recipients included public figures, industry leaders, folk artists, doctors, and academics recognized for their long-standing contributions to their respective fields.
Notable awardees included veteran actor Dharmendra and violinist Dr. N. Rajam who received the Padma Vibhushan. The Padma Bhushan recipients comprised former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, banker Uday Kotak, gastroenterologist Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy, advertising icon Piyush Pandey, and BJP leader Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
