On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the “Civil Investiture Ceremony-II,” where 69 people received Padma Awards.

“Attended the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II, where the Padma Awards were presented. The Padma awardees have made notable contributions to our society. The life journeys of those who were conferred the Padma are deeply motivating,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

Earlier, 69 people who have made outstanding achievements in a variety of sectors, including art, literature, education, public affairs, medicine, social work, science, sports, and industry, were given Padma Awards by President Droupadi Murmu.

Along with other dignitaries, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the ceremony. The Padma Awards ceremony for 2025 entered its second phase with this event.

One of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Awards are given out in three different categories: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. On the eve of Republic Day this year, the government revealed 139 Padma winners.

Three Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan, and fifty-seven Padma Shri recipients were among those honored in this phase. Thirteen posthumous recognitions, honoring heroes who made a lasting impact in their industries, gave the ceremony extra meaning.

The posthumous awarding of the Padma Vibhushan to the late Bhojpuri and folk singer Dr. Sharda Sinha, whose music struck a profound chord with the Indian heartland, was one of the event’s most poignant moments.

The Padma Vibhushan was also given to classical dancer Kumudini Lakhia (posthumous) and former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar.

Among the Padma Bhushan recipients were renowned journalist and novelist A. Surya Prakash, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, and social activist Sadhvi Ritambhara, who was well-known for her involvement in the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.

Legendary musician Pankaj Udhas, seasoned politician Manohar Joshi, and economist Bibek Debroy were among the posthumous Padma Bhushan awardees. renowned Malayalam author M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Japanese businessman Osamu Suzuki, who was instrumental in Suzuki’s collaboration with India.

The Padma Shri category received the most honors, with 57 people honored for their innovative and grassroots work throughout the nation.

Notably, 23 of the recipients are female, demonstrating the increasing acknowledgement of female excellence across a range of fields.

The philosophy of “nation first, people first” is reaffirmed during this year’s ceremony, where the recipients represent the diversity of Indian culture, science, and humanitarianism. The Padma Awards are now a true people’s honor, honoring not only celebrity but also significant service, thanks to the government’s efforts to democratize the ceremony.