A Historic Day for Indian Excellence at Rashtrapati Bhavan
In a grand celebration of exceptional talent, leadership, and dedicated public service, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Awards 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The second Civil Investiture Ceremony, held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, saw a distinguished gathering of sports icons, artists, scholars, and grassroots changemakers honored with some of the nation’s highest civilian accolades.
The ceremony underscored a broader national narrative of celebrating impact-makers from all walks of life. The civil honors have been systematically designed to acknowledge individuals who have driven deep, selfless service across society. The event was attended by top dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan. The second phase honored a total of 65 personalities, which included two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards.
Rohit Sharma Honored for Cricketing Excellence
Among the standout recipients of the evening was the former captain of the Indian men’s cricket team, Rohit Sharma, who was presented with the Padma Shri in recognition of his monumental contributions to the sport. A snippet from the national broadcast highlights the formal and humble moment the legendary batsman accepted his award from President Murmu.
The timing of this honor brought a unique sense of nostalgia for Sharma. Taking to social media shortly after the ceremony, he highlighted a remarkable coincidence: June 23 marked exactly 19 years since his international debut for India back in 2007.
Sharma enters a highly exclusive club of fewer than 40 Indian cricketers to ever receive the Padma Shri. His legendary status is backed by historic milestones, including being the only player in world cricket to smash three double centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Under his visionary captaincy, the Indian team broke major ICC title droughts, securing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and following it up with an emphatic ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2025.
Savita Punia: ‘The Great Wall’ Receives National Recognition
The ceremony also celebrated the phenomenal journey of Savita Punia, the former captain and veteran goalkeeper of the Indian women’s national field hockey team. Popularly revered as the “Great Wall” of Indian women’s hockey, Punia was conferred the Padma Shri for her stellar contributions on the field.
Punia’s career is defined by inspiring longevity and an incredible rise from a humble rural background to international acclaim. Punia has won the prestigious “FIH Goalkeeper of the Year” award for three consecutive seasons and has long been the backbone of the national squad. In 2025, she became only the second Indian goalkeeper to cross the milestone of 300 international caps. She famously anchored India’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and led the team to multiple regional titles, serving as an enduring source of inspiration for young athletes looking to overcome social barriers.
Prominent Padma Bhushan Recipients
Seven distinguished personalities were awarded the Padma Bhushan during this phase for their higher-order service to the nation:
- Vijay Amritraj: The trailblazing Indian tennis great and global sports diplomat was celebrated for elevating Indian tennis on the international stage.
- Mammootty: The iconic veteran Malayalam actor was recognized for his profound, multi-decade impact on Indian cinema.
- Alka Yagnik: The legendary playback singer was honored for her unparalleled contributions to the Indian music industry.
- Shibu Soren (Posthumous): The JMM founder and former Union Minister was honored posthumously, with his wife Rupi Soren accepting the accolade.
- Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori: The acclaimed US-based oncologist received the honor for his breakthroughs and international service in the field of medicine.
- Vellappally Natesan: The noted educationist and social worker was awarded for community development.
- S.K.M. Maeilanandhan: The prominent industrialist was recognized for his economic and societal contributions.
Other Notable Padma Shri Winners
Alongside Rohit Sharma and Savita Punia, several others across varied domains were named among the 56 Padma Shri awardees:
- Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar: The captain of the Indian women’s cricket team was awarded for leading the national squad to historic milestones, including a maiden ODI World Cup title.
- R. Madhavan: The celebrated actor was honored for his widespread artistic achievements across Indian cinema.
- Satish Shah (Posthumous): The beloved veteran actor was posthumously recognized for his enduring contributions to arts and entertainment.
- Dr. Padma Gurmet: Hailing from Ladakh, the Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa was honored for preserving and promoting the traditional Himalayan medical system.
- Dr. Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore: The Chairman of the Karnataka Lingayat Education Society was celebrated for spending over four decades establishing a massive network of healthcare facilities and over 320 schools in rural areas.
- Liudmila Khokhlova: The Russian academician was honored in the Literature and Education category, highlighting the global reach of the awards.
- Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Posthumous): The legendary wrestling mentor from Georgia—who coached iconic Indian Olympians like Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt—was honored posthumously for his foundational contribution to Indian wrestling, becoming the first foreign coach to receive a Padma award.
Key Takeaways
- Sports Icons Celebrated: Rohit Sharma and Savita Punia were formally awarded the Padma Shri for elevating Indian cricket and hockey respectively.
- Magical Coincidence: Rohit Sharma received his civilian award on June 23, exactly 19 years after making his international debut for the national team.
- Inspirational Longevity: Savita Punia’s journey from a rural background to crossing 300 international caps serves as a blueprint for empowering young sportswomen.
- Diverse Field of Achievers: The 2026 awards highlighted exceptional leaders from sports, cinema, medicine, education, and international coaching partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Which award did Rohit Sharma receive at the Rashtrapati Bhavan?
Rohit Sharma was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his distinguished contribution to Indian cricket over the decades.
Q2: Why is Savita Punia known as ‘The Great Wall’?
Savita Punia earned the title due to her exceptional skills as a goalkeeper for the Indian women’s national hockey team, famously anchoring historic defensive performances like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign.
Q3: How many awards were distributed during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony of 2026?
A total of 65 Padma Awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu, consisting of 2 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri honors.
