The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, conferred the Padma Awards for the year 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 June 2026. The ceremony saw the President present the three categories of these prestigious civilian honours, namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, to the awardees. The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian awards of the country and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are conferred in three distinct tiers: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service. These awards recognise achievements across diverse fields and disciplines. The investiture took place in the august presence of several dignitaries. The Vice-President of India, the Prime Minister of India and the Union Home Minister, along with other distinguished guests, were present on the occasion to honour the awardees. The ceremony was organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President, which serves as the venue for such formal investiture functions. The conferment of the Padma Awards 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II marks the formal recognition of individuals for their outstanding contributions to the nation. The event underscores the State's acknowledgement of excellence and exceptional service rendered by citizens in various spheres of public life, reinforcing the constitutional spirit of celebrating merit and distinguished achievement.