President Pranab Mukherjee today presented the Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities from various fields in a civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Scientist and former DG of DRDO V K Aatre, Superstar Rajnikant, classical singer Girija Devi, journalist and film maker Ramoji Rao, Oncologist Dr V Shanta were honoured with Padma Vibhushan. <br/><br/>Singer Udit Narayan, former US diplomat Robert Blackwill, Chinmaya Mission Chief Swami Tejomayananda, Theater personality Heisnam Kanhailal, tennis player Sania Mirza were among eleven people honoured with the Padma Bhushan. <br/><br/>Actor Priyanka Chopra, Eminent journalist Jawahar Kaul, Sports commentator Sushil Doshi, Writer Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah, environment preserver Simon Oraon, Lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, Textile Designer Sribhas Supakar were among forty people who received the Padmashree.

President Pranab Mukherjee today presented the Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities from various fields in a civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Mr Mukherjee presented five Padma Vibhushan, eleven Padma Bhushan and forty Padma Shri awards at the function. <br/><br/>Scientist and former DG of DRDO V K Aatre, Superstar Rajnikant, classical singer Girija Devi, journalist and film maker Ramoji Rao, Oncologist Dr. V Shanta were honoured with Padma Vibhushan. Singer Udit Narayan, former US diplomat Robert Blackwill, Chinmaya Mission Chief Swami Tejomayananda, Theater personality Heisnam Kanhailal, tennis player Sania Mirza were among those honoured with the Padma Bhushan. <br/><br/>Actor Priyanka Chopra, Sports commentator Sushil Doshi, writer Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah, environment preserver Simon Oraon, Lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, Textile Designer Sribhas Supakar were among others who received the Padmashree. <br/><br/>Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and several Union Ministers were present on the occasion. Earlier in March, 56 eminent personalities were honoured with the Padma awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The government had announced Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards in the country, for 112 eminent persons on the eve of Republic Day.

President Pranab Mukherjee today presented the Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities from various fields in a civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Superstar Rajnikant, classical singer Dr Girija Devi, journalist Ramoji Rao were among those honoured with Padma Vibhushan. Singer Udit Narayan, and tennis player Sania Mirza have been honoured with the Padma Bhushan. <br/><br/>Actor Priyanka Chopra, writer Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah, among others have been honoured with the Padmashree. Earlier in March, 56 eminent personalities were honoured with the Padma awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The government had announced Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards in the country, for 112 eminent persons on the eve of Republic Day.