Vijay Amritraj, Mammootty, Rohit Sharma, Alka Yagnik take home Padma awards President Droupadi Murmu presented the second set of 65 Padma awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 23, 2026, honoring individuals across diverse fields for their exceptional contributions. The ceremony, held at the Ganatantra Mandap, marked the continuation of the annual civil investiture event, following the first ceremony on May 25, which had awarded 66 of the 131 total Padma awards announced on Republic Day. The awards, which include the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, recognize outstanding achievements in art, science, public affairs, sports, and other disciplines. Among the recipients were tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, actor Mammootty, cricketer Rohit Sharma, and playback singer Alka Yagnik, who were honored with the Padma Bhushan. Sharma, who led India to victory in the 2025 T-20 World Cup, received the award for his sports contributions, while Yagnik was recognized for her work in the music industry. Amritraj, a former Wimbledon champion, and Mammootty, a veteran Malayalam actor, were also celebrated for their respective fields. The Padma Vibhushan, the highest civilian honor, was conferred on former Supreme Court judge K. T. Thomas for his work in public affairs and on Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan for his contributions to literature and education. Additionally, American oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori and industrialist S.K.M. Maeilanandhan were awarded the Padma Bhushan, as were social worker Vellappally Natesan and Rupi Soren, who received the honor on behalf of her late husband, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren.#droupadi_murmu #rohit_sharma #vijay_amritraj #mammootty #alka_yagnik
