Celebrated at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan, the prestigious national honors recognized 65 exemplary achievers across art, culture, and cinema.
President Droupadi Murmu formally conferred the highly anticipated Padma Awards 2026 during the second glittering Civil Investiture Ceremony held on Tuesday evening at the historic Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. The grand national event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who gathered to celebrate the exceptional contributions of India’s finest minds, artists, and grassroots pioneers.
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According to an official release from the President’s Secretariat, a total of 65 Padma Awards were presented during this specific session. The breakdown of Tuesday’s honors included two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards.
[Padma Awards 2026: Ceremony Matrix]
│
┌──────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
[The Ceremony Session] [Total Annual Approval] [Key Event Attendees]
• 65 Total Awards Conferred. • 131 Total Awards in 2026. • PM Narendra Modi.
• 2 Padma Vibhushan. • 5 Padma Vibhushan. • Home Minister Amit Shah.
• 7 Padma Bhushan. • 13 Padma Bhushan. • Host: President Murmu.
• 56 Padma Shri. • 113 Padma Shri. • Venue: Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Cinematic and Cultural Icons Take Center Stage
The evening celebrated a balanced mix of legendary entertainment figures and dedicated regional folk artists. Mega-star Mammootty and iconic playback singer Alka Yagnik were conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, celebrating their decades of artistic excellence and impact on Indian pop culture.
Meanwhile, the Padma Shri cohort highlighted diverse creative talents from across regional entertainment industries. Dynamic actor-director R Madhavan, veteran performers Rajendra Prasad, Maganti Murali Mohan, and Anil Kumar Rastogi were all personally decorated by the President.
A Touching Posthumous Tribute: The ceremony observed a poignant moment when Arvind Shah walked up to the podium to receive the posthumous Padma Shri on behalf of his brother, the beloved late comedic actor Satish Shah.
The Highlighted Winners From Tuesday’s Ceremony
While the President approved a comprehensive slate of 131 awards for the entire year of 2026 (spanning 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri titles usually announced on the eve of Republic Day), Tuesday’s investiture session put a direct spotlight on these prominent artistic achievers:
| Award Category | Recipient Name | Primary Field / Domain | Notable Context / Representation |
| Padma Bhushan | Mammootty | Art / Indian Cinema | Legendary Malayalam and pan-Indian actor. |
| Padma Bhushan | Alka Yagnik | Art / Vocal Music | Iconic Bollywood playback singer. |
| Padma Shri | R Madhavan | Art / Indian Cinema | Multilingual actor, director, and storyteller. |
| Padma Shri | Late Satish Shah | Art / Cinema & TV | Posthumous honor; received by brother Arvind Shah. |
| Padma Shri | Guru Sangyusang Pongener | Art / Traditional Folk | Dedicated regional folk artist and preservationist. |
| Padma Shri | Maganti Murali Mohan | Art / Cinema | Veteran Telugu actor and public figure. |
| Padma Shri | Rajendra Prasad | Art / Cinema | Renowned performer in South Indian cinema. |
| Padma Shri | Anil Kumar Rastogi | Art / Theatre & Cinema | Veteran character actor and theatre academician. |
The annual honors continue to serve as a baseline recognition of distinguished, selfless contributions across fields as diverse as medicine, science, public affairs, social work, and civil service, binding India’s diverse creative output under one umbrella.
SECTION 4 — FAQ
Q1: How many total Padma Awards were given out during this specific Rashtrapati Bhawan ceremony?
During this second Civil Investiture Ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu presented a total of 65 Padma Awards. This internal batch consisted of two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri honors.
Q2: Which major civilian honors did Mammootty and Alka Yagnik receive?
Both actor Mammootty and singer Alka Yagnik were conferred with the Padma Bhushan, which represents the third-highest civilian honor in the Republic of India, recognizing their lifelong dedication to the performing arts.
Q3: Who accepted the posthumous Padma Shri award for the late actor Satish Shah?
The late actor Satish Shah was honored posthumously for his rich contributions to Indian cinema and television. His brother, Arvind Shah, attended the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive the award on his behalf.
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