'Every Padma awardee has an inspiring life journey': PM Modi shares Instagram page on X

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Monday to share a link to an Instagram page highlighting the mesmerizing efforts of some of the Padma awardees.

His post on X came hours after President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards – India’s prestigious civilian honors – for 2026 to 66 recipients.

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On Monday evening, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X, “Each Padma awardee has an inspiring journey in life. The official Instagram page of the Padma Awards highlights some of their fascinating endeavours. Watch: https://www.instagram.com/padmaawards/”

The President confers 66 Padma Awards

President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma awards on 66 recipients on Monday.

The Padma Vibhushan was awarded posthumously to Bollywood actor Dharmendra and classical musician and violinist N Raja at a civil investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

When the name of Dharmendra’s wife Hema Malini, a BJP MP, was announced to receive his award for exceptional and distinguished service to the arts, their daughter Ahana Deol, sitting in the audience, broke down in tears.

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Rajam has been recognized for her pioneering contribution to Indian classical music, particularly for revolutionizing violin playing through the “Gayaki Ang” style, which replicates vocal music on the instrument.

President Murmu awarded Padma Bhushan to Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand; Shatavadhani R Ganesh, the acclaimed polymath who revived the challenging classical Indian art form ‘Avadhana’; Uday Suresh Kumar Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank; and gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy.

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She also conferred the award posthumously on ad guru Piyush Pandey and former MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra. Pandey’s wife and Malhotra’s son received the award.

For the year 2026, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards – five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri. It conferred two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan and 58 Padma Shri at Monday’s ceremony.

The remaining Padma awardees will be conferred in the second round of the ceremony to be held later, sources said.

Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar, actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, para-athlete Praveen Kumar and former Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) K Vijay Kumar have received the Padma Shri.

Folk musician Mir Haji Kasam, Tamil devotional music artist N Swaminathan and Rajasthani folk artist Taga Ram Bhil, known for playing the traditional wind instrument Algoja, were among those honored for their contribution to art and culture.

Silambam master K Pajanivel was felicitated for promoting the ancient Tamil martial art, while hockey coach Baldev Singh was felicitated for mentoring several top Indian players.

Kantha embroidery artist Tripti Mukherjee was also among the awardees.

Social worker Janardan Bapurao Bothe was honored for rural upliftment and propagation of the Gramgeeta philosophy and husband and wife duo Ramchandra Godbole and Suneeta Godbole for providing healthcare and social support to tribal communities for more than three decades in the once Naxal-infested Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

The President also awarded Padma Shri to bibliophile Ankegowda M, environmentalist Devaki Amma G, Sanskrit scholar Vempata Kutumba Shastry, botanist Gambir Singh Yonzone and environmentalist Hally Wara and other eminent citizens.

Held at Gantantra Mandap Rashtrapati Bhavan, the ceremony began with an instrumental rendition of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ followed by the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’.

It was attended by Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah among others.

Announced every year on Republic Day, the Padma awards are given in various fields including arts, social work, public affairs, science and technology, commerce and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and public administration.