Alka Yagnik and Mammootty conferred Padma Bhushan award:Rohit Sharma, Vijay Amritraj among 65 recipients

President Droupadi Murmu will confer 65 Padma Awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of the second Civil Investiture Ceremony of 2026. According to an official statement, the honors to be presented include two Padma Vibhushan awards, seven Padma Bhushan awards and 56 Padma Shri awards. The ceremony forms part of the government’s broader announcement of 131 Padma Awards for 2026, including five Padma Vibhushan honors, which was made on the eve of Republic Day. Among the distinguished recipients are tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, acclaimed actor Mammootty, playback singer Alka Yagnik and Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, who are among 65 prominent personalities set to receive the country’s prestigious civilian awards from the President. The first Civil Investiture Ceremony was held on 26 May, during which President Murmu conferred 66 Padma Awards. Honoring the preservation of Himalayan medical heritage Among this year’s Padma Shri awardees is Dr Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa, who is being recognised for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of the Himalayan medical tradition. Speaking to ANI ahead of the ceremony, Gurmet described the honor as a milestone not only in his personal journey but also for the wider Sowa-Rigpa community. “It feels wonderful. This year, I have been honored with the Padma Award for the preservation and promotion of the Himalayan medical tradition. Conferring this recognition on a person like me, who is from such a remote area in Ladakh, is a great achievement not only for me but also for the Sowa-Rigpa community,” he said. Four decades of service in education and rural development Another Padma Shri recipient, Dr Prabhakar Basaprabhu Kore, Chairman of the Karnataka Lingayat Education Society, is being honored for his longstanding contributions to education, healthcare and rural development. Kore, who hails from Karnataka’s Belagavi district, said he had dedicated 42 years of his life to expanding educational opportunities for children in rural areas where access to quality education was limited. Over the course of his career, he established nearly 320 schools and colleges, including technical colleges and a technical university. Today, approximately 1.48 lakh students are enrolled in institutions operated by his organisation. Beyond education, Kore has also built an extensive healthcare network comprising rural medical centres, satellite centres and a hospital with more than 5,000 beds. Of these, 1,200 beds have been reserved for the free treatment of underprivileged patients. Highlighting his work in the cooperative sector, he said: “At the same time, I work with farmers in the cooperative sector. I am the founder chairman of a cooperative sugar factory. There are more than 40,000 members, and it is one of the best cooperative factories in Karnataka.” Haemophilia specialist recognised for lifelong commitment Haematologist Dr Suresh Hanagavadi, who has spent four decades working to improve the lives of people living with haemophilia, a rare blood disorder, will also receive the Padma Shri award. Hanagavadi, who himself lives with haemophilia, said his personal experience with the condition inspired him to pursue medicine and dedicate his career to helping others affected by the disorder. Expressing gratitude for the recognition, he said: “I am truly very grateful to the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognising my 40 years of commitment in this field. I am also suffering from haemophilia. That made me determined to become a doctor. I would like to dedicate this honor to all my blood brothers, my haemophilia family, and to everyone who supported my initiatives and efforts.” India’s highest civilian honors The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honors and recognise exceptional contributions across a wide range of fields, including public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, social work, literature and education, arts, sports and civil service.