NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II on June 23, 2026, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the remaining 65 Padma Awards inside the Ganatantra Mandap of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The prestigious event was also attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top national leaders, marking the completion of the 2026 awards cycle.
Celebrating Exceptional Contributions and Dedication
A total of 65 eminent personalities were honored during the ceremony, comprising two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. The civilian honors celebrate exceptional service and dedication across fields ranging from public affairs, arts, and cinema to sports, medicine, and aerospace engineering.
Expressing his admiration for the awardees, PM Modi posted on X:
“Attended the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the Padma Awards were presented. They celebrate exceptional service and dedication across diverse fields. Each awardee represents the best of our commitment to society. Their life journeys inspire countless citizens and remind everyone of the power of hard work and service.”
High-Profile Recipients and Key Highlights
The second investiture ceremony honored several of the nation’s most recognizable icons alongside unsung grassroots heroes:
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Padma Vibhushan: Conferred upon former Supreme Court judge Justice K.T. Thomas for his exemplary contribution to Public Affairs, and veteran Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan for his stellar impact on Literature and Education.
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Padma Bhushan: Celebrated figures included cinema legend Mammootty, iconoclastic playback singer Alka Yagnik, tennis maestro Vijay Amritraj, and renowned American-Indian oncologist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori. A posthumous Padma Bhushan was presented to Rupi Soren on behalf of the late Jharkhand leader Shibu Soren.
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Padma Shri: Indian Cricket Captain Rohit Sharma was awarded the Padma Shri following India’s landmark T20 World Cup triumph, alongside hockey star Savita Punia. Acclaimed actor R. Madhavan, legendary comedian Satish Shah (awarded posthumously), and aerospace scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu (who anchored the deployment of the Akash missile system) were also among the recipients.
Honoring Grassroots Guardians
The event particularly emphasized individuals driving deep social impact in isolated terrains. Among them were 83-year-old Guru Sangyusang Pongener, a cultural guardian preserving Naga folk traditions, and Budhri Tati, a social worker dedicated to the education and empowerment of women in the previously Naxal-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
The annual awards continue to institutionalize a model where high-achieving corporate, creative, and public figures are celebrated on the same platform as community leaders working silently for India’s rural interior.
