New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards on a distinguished group of personalities from sports, arts, literature, science, medicine, public service and social work at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, recognising their exceptional contributions to the nation.
Among the most notable recipients was veteran Indian cricketer and former captain Rohit Sharma, who received the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cricket. Widely known as the “Hitman”, Rohit holds the record for the most international sixes across formats and the highest individual score in One-Day Internationals. He is also among the most successful batters in T20 Internationals, with five centuries to his name.
The ceremony also celebrated achievements across the arts. Veteran Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema, while acclaimed playback singer Alka Yagnik received the Padma Bhushan for a musical career spanning more than four decades and thousands of songs across multiple Indian languages.
Actor, filmmaker and producer R. Madhavan was awarded the Padma Shri, recognising his extensive contribution to Indian cinema in Tamil, Hindi and other languages. Veteran actor Satish Shah was posthumously honoured with the Padma Shri for his enduring contribution to theatre, television and film.
In the field of sports, tennis legend Dr. Vijay Amritraj received the Padma Bhushan. A pioneer of Asian tennis, Amritraj won 16 ATP titles and remained Asia’s top-ranked player for 14 years before establishing himself as an internationally respected sports broadcaster.
President Murmu also posthumously honoured renowned wrestling coach Vladimir Mstvrisvili with the Padma Shri. The celebrated freestyle wrestling mentor played a significant role in shaping Indian wrestling and coached Olympic medallists including Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Bajrang Punia.
Several eminent personalities from science, medicine and education were also recognised. Dr. Chandramauli Gaddamanugu received the Padma Shri for contributions to science and engineering, while noted paediatrician and neonatologist Dr. Armida Fernandez was honoured with the Padma Shri for her pioneering work in medicine and public health.
Renowned oncologist Dr. Dattatreyaudu Nori was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his innovations in cancer treatment and his contributions to improving cancer care. President Murmu also honoured Dr. Liudmila Khokhlova with the Padma Shri for contributions to literature and education.
In the fields of literature and education, Prof. Mangla Kapoor received the Padma Shri for her work as a classical singer, musicologist and educator. She has authored several books on music and has played a key role in preserving and promoting the traditions of the Gwalior gharana. Ashok Kumar Haldar and former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati were also honoured with the Padma Shri for their contributions to education and literature.
Public service and social reform were strongly represented among this year’s awardees. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and tribal leader Shibu Soren was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to public life and the Jharkhand movement. Social reformer Vellappally Natesan received the Padma Bhushan for his efforts in expanding educational opportunities and social empowerment.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd.) K. T. Thomas was conferred the Padma Vibhushan for his distinguished service in public affairs. He is widely recognised for his contributions to criminal law, police reforms and legal policy.
Among other recipients, Yogesh Deuri was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to agriculture and sericulture, while social worker Dr. SKM Mayilanandan received the Padma Bhushan for his work in social service.
The awards also recognised contributions to traditional and folk arts. Warli tribal musician Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda received the Padma Shri for preserving and promoting Tarpa music, while Assamese theatre artist Nooruddin Ahmed was honoured for his contribution to stagecraft and theatre arts.
Senior artist and scientist Dr. Anil Kumar Rastogi, cleanliness campaigner and former IPS officer Sardar Inderjit Singh Sidhu, artist Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad, cultural figure Guru Sangyusang Ponnar, and Malayalam journalist and social reformer P. Narayanan were among the other distinguished personalities honoured during the ceremony.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, continue to celebrate excellence and service across diverse fields. This year’s recipients reflected the breadth of India’s talent—from cricket stadiums and cinema screens to laboratories, classrooms, courtrooms and grassroots social movements—highlighting contributions that have shaped society in meaningful and lasting ways.
