The President conferred Padma Awards for 2026 on personalities selected for their contributions across diverse fields at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25. The ceremony was attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.
For 2026, the President approved 131 Padma awards, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri honours, which are announced annually on Republic Day.
Among the awardees, personalities from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were recognised for their contributions in the fields of medicine, art, literature, education and classical studies.
Congratulations to all the Padma Awardees from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh honoured by Hon’ble @rashtrapatibhvn Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji at the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A proud moment to see contributions in medicine, art, literature and education being… pic.twitter.com/JRx3LX63PM
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) May 25, 2026
From Andhra Pradesh, Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad was honoured posthumously for his contribution to Indian classical and devotional music. Widely known for reviving and popularising the compositions of saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya, he was regarded as one of the most prolific composers of Annamacharya Sankeerthanams in modern times and played a major role in bringing devotional music traditions to wider audiences.
Prof. Vempaty Kutumba Sastry was recognised for his contribution to Sanskrit scholarship and Indian philosophical traditions. An authority on Advaita Vedanta, Darsanas and Sanskrit poetics, he currently serves as Chancellor of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram, and is associated with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research as a National Fellow.
From Telangana, Dr. Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy was recognised in the field of medicine. Serving as Director and Senior Consultant Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad, he is known for his work in oncology and patient care, combining clinical practice with cancer awareness and treatment initiatives.
Dr. Guduru Venkat Rao, Director of AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, was also honoured in the field of medicine. He is recognised for his contribution to minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery, therapeutic endoscopy and medical research in gastroenterology.
Classical dancer and choreographer Deepika Reddy received recognition in the field of art. Known for her work in Kuchipudi dance, she has been associated with productions highlighting themes such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, sustainable living, Indian handicrafts, temple heritage and tributes to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Andhra Pradesh awardees also included Padma Shri awardees Shri Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad and Shri Maganti Murali Mohan, who were among those honoured this year. From Telangana, Padma Shri awardee Chandramouli Gaddamanugu was recognised in the field of science and engineering.
The recognition of personalities from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana formed part of the broader national honours celebrating contributions to India’s cultural, academic, artistic and medical fields.
