Padma Awards 2026: Vijay Amritraj, Mammootty, Rohit Sharma & Alka Yagnik Take Home India's Highest Civilian Honours
On June 23, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Awards on 65 distinguished Indians at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at the Ganatantra Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, Malayalam cinema's Mammootty, and legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik received the Padma Bhushan — India's third-highest civilian honour. Cricket captain Rohit Sharma and actor R Madhavan were among those awarded the Padma Shri.
Ceremony at a Glance
- Date: June 23, 2026 — Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
- Total awards: 65 (2 Padma Vibhushan · 7 Padma Bhushan · 56 Padma Shri)
- Combined 2026 total: 131 awards across two ceremonies
- Dignitaries present: PM Narendra Modi, VP C P Radhakrishnan, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
What Are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honours, awarded each year on Republic Day by the President of India. They come in three categories — Padma Vibhushan (exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of high order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service in any field). Only the Bharat Ratna ranks higher.
In 2026, President Murmu split the honours across two ceremonies. The first, held on May 25, covered 66 individuals. The June 23 ceremony completed the remaining 65, bringing the full 2026 tally to 131 awards spanning art, sports, medicine, literature, science, public affairs, and civil service.
Padma Vibhushan: Two Towering Honours
The highest award presented at this ceremony went to former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas in the category of public affairs, and to eminent Malayalam journalist P Narayanan for his decades-long contribution to literature and education. Both recipients represent the kind of quiet, sustained service that rarely makes breaking news but reshapes institutions over generations.
Key Padma Bhushan Recipients
Vijay Amritraj — Tennis
Sports · Tamil Nadu
Vijay Amritraj's career is, in many ways, the story of Indian tennis finding its footing on the world stage. Born in 1953 in Madras, he turned professional in 1970 and went on to win 16 ATP singles titles and 13 doubles titles — competing week after week against Björn Borg, John McEnroe, and Jimmy Connors at their peak, and beating them on several occasions.
He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 18 in July 1980, still one of the highest achieved by any Indian male player in the Open Era. His Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon (1973, 1981) and the US Open (1973, 1974) remain part of Indian tennis folklore. On the Davis Cup stage, he led India to the finals in both 1974 and 1987 — in 1974 famously boycotting the final against South Africa in protest against apartheid.
Beyond tennis, Amritraj played an MI6 operative in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy and later appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. In 2001, he became the only tennis player to be appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July 2024 alongside Leander Paes. The Padma Bhushan in 2026 rounds out a hat-trick of national honours: Arjuna Award (1974), Padma Shri (1983), and now Padma Bhushan.
After the ceremony, Amritraj told IANS: "I'm truly honoured and humbled by this incredible award. I thank the Government of India, the Prime Minister, and the people of this great country who have helped me represent India globally."
Mammootty — Cinema
Art · Kerala
At 74, Mammootty remains one of the most active and respected actors in Indian cinema. Born Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail on September 7, 1951, he has appeared in over 400 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English in a career spanning more than five decades.
His accolades tell the story: three National Film Awards for Best Actor, eleven Kerala State Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards South, and eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards. Forbes included his performance in Mathilukal in its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema" in 2013. The Government of India had already honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1998; the Padma Bhushan in 2026 is an acknowledgment that his influence on Indian cinema has only grown since then.
He arrived at the ceremony accompanied by his wife Sulfath, son and actor Dulquer Salmaan, and daughter Surumi. His recent work includes Bramayugam, a Malayalam horror film that was selected for a special screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in 2026 — the first Mammootty film to receive that distinction.
Alka Yagnik — Music
Art · Maharashtra
Alka Yagnik's Padma Bhushan may be the most emotionally charged moment of the entire 2026 ceremony. The legendary playback singer — who began singing at age four, recorded her first song for All India Radio Calcutta at six, and went on to become the world's most-streamed music artist on YouTube with 17 billion streams in 2021 — walked to the stage with the support of an assistant, her hearing severely affected by a rare condition she disclosed publicly in 2024.
She was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss caused by a viral attack, which she said struck suddenly after she stepped off a flight. For two years, she largely withdrew from public life. The Padma ceremony on June 23 was one of her first significant public appearances during that period. Before receiving the honour from President Murmu, she quietly touched PM Modi's feet — a moment that moved many in the audience.
Over a career of more than four decades, Yagnik delivered songs that defined Bollywood for an entire generation: Ek Do Teen, Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Taal Se Taal Mila, Agar Tum Saath Ho. She holds a record seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, two National Film Awards, and a Guinness World Record for the most-streamed music artist on YouTube.
The day after the ceremony, she posted on Instagram: "For the last two years, I have stayed away from the spotlight... Today, I didn't just accept an award — I felt the love of millions who have been a part of my journey."
Padma Shri: Sports Icons and Cultural Achievers
Rohit Sharma — Cricket
Sports · Maharashtra
Former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri for a career that reached its peak in back-to-back ICC title wins. Under his captaincy, India won the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025 — a combination that cemented his place among India's most successful captains. The Padma Shri joins a list of achievements that includes being India's highest scorer in ODI cricket and one of the few batters to have hit six ODI centuries.
R Madhavan — Cinema
Art · Tamil Nadu
Actor R Madhavan received the Padma Shri in a ceremony moment that went viral — he walked to PM Modi first, greeted him warmly, then respectfully bowed before President Murmu. Madhavan has built one of Indian cinema's most versatile careers, working across Tamil, Hindi, English, and Malayalam. His recent hit Dhurandhar, in which he plays RAW chief Ajay Sanyal, was accompanied by his wife Sarita and son Vedaant at the ceremony.
Satish Shah — Cinema
Art
Satish Shah, who passed away earlier, was honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri for his immense contribution to Indian theatre, television, and cinema. Best remembered for his roles in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, and Main Hoon Na, Shah brought a rare blend of comic brilliance and dramatic depth to everything he touched. His cousin Arvind Mamania accepted the award on behalf of the family.
Other Notable Padma Shri Recipients
| Name | Field | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar | Sports (Cricket) | Led India women to their first ODI World Cup title |
| Savita Punia | Sports (Hockey) | India's second goalkeeper to reach 300 international caps |
| Vladimir Mestvirishvili | Sports (Wrestling Coach) | Posthumous; first foreign coach to receive Padma Shri. Trained Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya |
| Chandramouli Gaddamanugu | Science and Engineering | Led development of Akash Missile system during Operation Sindoor |
| Ashok Khade | Trade and Industry | Self-made entrepreneur from Dalit cobbler family; built offshore fabrication company |
| Shashi Shekhar Vempati | Literature and Education | Former CEO of Prasar Bharati; current CBFC chairman |
| Guru Sangyusang Pongener | Art (Folk) | 83-year-old cultural guardian from Nagaland; arrived in traditional Naga attire |
| Ranjani & Gayatri | Art (Carnatic Music) | Counted as a single award for the sibling duo |
| Budhri Tati | Social Work | Education and women's empowerment in formerly Naxal-affected Bastar, Chhattisgarh |
The Broader Context: 131 Padma Awards in 2026
This second ceremony brought the year's total to 131 awards: 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. The first ceremony on May 25 had its own standout moment — Bollywood icon Dharmendra, who died in November 2025, received a posthumous Padma Vibhushan accepted by his wife, actor-politician Hema Malini.
What makes 2026's list particularly diverse is the range of fields and backgrounds it covers. Alongside film stars and cricketers sit aerospace scientists, classical musicians, social workers from remote districts, and a Georgian wrestling coach whose Indian charges brought home Olympic medals for decades. The awards also recognised K T Thomas, a former Supreme Court judge, and KV Achuthanandhan — former Kerala Chief Minister — posthumously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who received the Padma Bhushan at the Padma Awards 2026 second ceremony?
At the second ceremony on June 23, 2026, the Padma Bhushan went to Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, American oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, industrialist S K M Maeilanandhan, social worker Vellappally Natesan, and Rupi Soren (on behalf of the late JMM founder Shibu Soren).
What award did Rohit Sharma receive at Padma Awards 2026?
Rohit Sharma received the Padma Shri — India's fourth-highest civilian honour — in recognition of his leadership that brought India the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025.
How many Padma Awards were given in total in 2026?
A total of 131 Padma Awards were presented across two ceremonies in 2026 — 66 at the first ceremony on May 25 and 65 at the second ceremony on June 23. These included 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
What health condition is Alka Yagnik battling?
Alka Yagnik was diagnosed in 2024 with rare sensorineural hearing loss caused by a viral attack. She said her hearing suddenly disappeared after stepping off a flight. Despite the condition, she attended the Padma Awards ceremony on June 23, 2026, and received her Padma Bhushan from President Droupadi Murmu.
What is Vijay Amritraj's career-high ATP ranking?
Vijay Amritraj reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 18 in July 1980, making him one of the highest-ranked Indian male players in the Open Era. He won 16 singles and 13 doubles titles during his professional career.
Final Thoughts
The Padma Awards 2026 second ceremony was more than a list of names. It was a study in the different shapes a distinguished life can take. Vijay Amritraj carrying Indian tennis to Wimbledon quarterfinals before most Indians had seen a Grand Slam. Mammootty spending five decades pushing the limits of what a performance can be. Alka Yagnik, who gave millions the soundtrack of their youth, showing up to receive her honour despite a condition that took the very thing that made her career possible. Rohit Sharma lifting two ICC trophies in 13 months.
India's civilian honours system has often been criticised for being slow. This year's list suggests the machinery, however imperfect, does eventually find its way to the right people.
For more coverage on Indian awards, sports, and entertainment, visit Blognestify India News and Entertainment.
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