GUWAHATI: President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Padma Awards for 2026 during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25.
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In a social media post on Sunday, May 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the President will present the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards to distinguished individuals from across the country for their contributions in various fields.
This year, the Government of India has announced a total of 131 Padma Awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. Among the recipients, 19 are women, while 16 awards will be conferred posthumously.
From Assam, noted Sattriya exponent Haricharan Saikia, sculptor Nuruddin Ahmed, silk expert Jogesh Deuri, Karbi folk music exponent Pokila Lektepi, and former Union Minister and veteran BJP leader Kabindra Purkayastha have been selected for the Padma Shri award. Purkayastha will receive the honour posthumously.
Beyond Assam, several personalities from the Northeast have also been recognised this year. These include Sangyusang S. Pongener from Nagaland, Techi Gubin, Yumnam Jatra Singh, Naresh Chandra Dev Varma and Hally War.
The Padma Awards, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are among India’s highest civilian honours. Instituted in 1954, the awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day and recognise exceptional and distinguished service across diverse disciplines and fields of public life.
