Padma Awards 2026 — Second Civil Investiture Ceremony: Tamil Nadu Recipients, Mammootty, Rohit Sharma Honoured

Detailed Summary

President Droupadi Murmu conferred 65 Padma Awards at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Ganatantra Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on June 23, 2026. The ceremony was attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The 65 awards included two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri. With this, all 131 Padma Awards announced on Republic Day (January 26, 2026) have now been conferred — the first investiture was held on May 25, 2026, where 65 awards were presented.

Key Recipients — Second Investiture (June 23, 2026)

Tamil Nadu Recipients — Full Padma Awards 2026 List

About S.K.M. Maeilanandhan (Tamil Nadu Padma Bhushan Recipient)

Dr. S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, Executive Chairman of SKM Group of Companies, was born on June 18, 1945 in a poor agricultural family in Erode district, Tamil Nadu. He educated himself only till school final. He founded the Poultry Farmers Welfare Association in 1983 and pioneered the Rural Marketing Barter System. He was instrumental in including eggs in Tamil Nadu Government Noon Meal Scheme to eradicate malnutrition among children. He is also a renowned yoga and meditation promoter.

About Sivasankari (Tamil Nadu Padma Shri — Literature)

Sivasankari is a distinguished Tamil writer with over five decades of literary contribution. She is renowned for her profound awareness of social issues, sensitivity to human suffering, and humanistic perspective. Her writings cover topics of social relevance including women's rights, family dynamics, and social reform. She is considered one of the most respected writers of her generation in Tamil literature.

About K. Vijay Kumar (Padma Shri — Tamil Nadu IPS Officer)

K. Vijay Kumar is a 1975-batch IPS officer from Tamil Nadu cadre. He is best known for leading the 2004 operation that neutralised forest brigand Veerappan after a decade-long manhunt. He served as Director General of the CRPF and was Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He is a highly decorated officer with contributions to counter-terrorism and internal security.

Historical Background — Padma Awards

The Padma Awards were instituted in 1954 alongside the Bharat Ratna. They are announced annually on Republic Day (January 26). The three tiers: Padma Vibhushan (exceptional and distinguished service — highest), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of high order), Padma Shri (distinguished service — third tier). The awards are given in fields including Art, Social Work, Public Affairs, Science and Engineering, Trade and Industry, Medicine, Literature and Education, Sports, and Civil Service. The awards lapsed in 1977 (during Janata Party rule) and were revived in 1980.

Why Important for TNPSC

Padma Awards are among the most frequently asked topics in TNPSC Group 1, 2, and 4 examinations. Tamil Nadu recipients in different categories, including Sivasankari (literature), S.K.M. Maeilanandhan (social work), Ranjani-Gayatri (Carnatic music), Dr. V. Kamakoti (IIT Madras), are particularly relevant for state-specific current affairs questions.

Important Personalities and Key Facts

• Total Padma Awards 2026: 131 (5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, 113 Padma Shri)
• Tamil Nadu recipients: 13 (one of the highest state representations)
• First investiture: May 25, 2026 — 65 awards
• Second investiture: June 23, 2026 — 65 awards
• Vijay Amritraj: Tennis legend with roots in Tamil Nadu (born in Madras/Chennai)
• Alka Yagnik: Receiving Padma Bhushan while battling sensory neural hearing loss
• Rohit Sharma: Led India to T20 World Cup victory

Exam-Oriented Notes

• Padma Awards established: 1954 (same year as Bharat Ratna)
• Revived in 1980 after lapsing in 1977.
• Padma Vibhushan — highest Padma; Padma Shri — third tier.
• Tamil Nadu 2026 Padma recipients: 13 (including R. Madhavan, Sivasankari, S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, Ranjani-Gayatri).
• S.K.M. Maeilanandhan: Born in Erode; social work in Tamil Nadu poultry sector and noon meal scheme.

3 TNPSC-Style MCQs

Q1. Who received the Padma Bhushan for Social Work from Tamil Nadu in the 2026 Padma Awards?

• A) Sivasankari
• B) S.K.M. Maeilanandhan
• C) K. Vijay Kumar
• D) Dr. V. Kamakoti

Answer: B) S.K.M. Maeilanandhan
Explanation: S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, founder of SKM Group and social welfare activist from Erode, Tamil Nadu, received the Padma Bhushan for Social Work in 2026.

Q2. Tamil writer Sivasankari was conferred which Padma Award in 2026?

• A) Padma Vibhushan
• B) Padma Bhushan
• C) Padma Shri
• D) Bharat Ratna

Answer: C) Padma Shri
Explanation: Sivasankari, the veteran Tamil writer with over five decades of literary contribution, received the Padma Shri for Literature and Education.

Q3. In which year were the Padma Awards first instituted in India?

• A) 1950
• B) 1952
• C) 1954
• D) 1961

Answer: C) 1954
Explanation: The Padma Awards were instituted in 1954, the same year as the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour.