President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Padma Awards for the year 2026 at the civil investiture ceremony scheduled for Monday at the Ganatantra Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The event will be attended by Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several other Union ministers and dignitaries. The ceremony is planned in two phases.
First Phase of Investiture
During the first civil investiture on Monday, the President will bestow 66 Padma Awards, comprising 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri. The remaining awards will be presented in the second phase of the ceremony, which will be held at a later date.
About the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honors in India, second only to the Bharat Ratna. They are conferred for excellence and exemplary service in various fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
Announcement and Approval
These awards are traditionally announced on Republic Day each year. For 2026, the President has approved a total of 131 Padma Awards, which include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
About the Author
Bharti Jain is a senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been covering security matters since 1996, including the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission, and political beats for The Economic Times before joining TOI in August 2012. Her work encompasses terrorism, internal strife, and strategic affairs in India's neighborhood.
