President Ram Nath Kovind Confers Padma Awards At Rashtrapati Bhawan

President Ramnath Kovind on Monday (11 March), presented Padma awards to 56 of the 112 personalities chosen to be honoured this year, reports ANI.

The awards are generally conferred in three categories, namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Sri which are the second, third and fourth highest civilian award of the country respectively.

Singer Teejan Bhai from Chattisgarh (arts-vocals-folk), Anilkumar Manibhai Naik from Maharashtra (trade and industry infrastructure), Balwant Moheshwar Purandare from Maharashtra (art-acting-theatre) and Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh (public affairs) won the Padma Vibhushan.

Malayalam actor Mohanlal, Rajya Sabha MP and SAD leader Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhinsha and Lok Sabha MP and BJP leader Hukumdev Narayan Yadav were among those awarded Padma Bhushan.

Padma Bhushan (posthumous) was awarded to journalist Kuldip Nayar, his wife Bharati Nayar received the award.

Actor, Director and renowned dancer Prabhu Deva, Music Director, Singer Shankar Mahadeva, veteran actor Kader Khan, wrestler Bajrang Punia, Indian Kabaddi team captain Ajay Thakur and table tennis player Sharath Kamal and grandmaster Harika Dronavalli were conferred Padma Shri.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Indian Percussionist Anandan Sivamani were also awarded Padma Shri.