ProMASS News Bureau: Mar 28, 2016:
President Pranab Mukherjee today honoured 56 eminent personalities with Padma awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Mr Mukherjee presented five Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and 43 Padma Shri awards at the function. Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Jagmohan, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Indian-American economist Avinash Kamalakar Dixit Renowned dancer Yamini Krishnamurti were honoured with Padma Vibhushan. Founder of Reliance Industries late Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani was honoured with Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
Actor Anupam Kher, Badminton star Saina Nehwal, Former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, Industrialist Pallonji Mistry, Architect Hafeez Contractor, Senior journalist Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Chemist Alla Venkata Rama Rao, Gastroenterologist D Nageshwar Reddy were given Padma Bhushan. Actor Ajay Devgan, Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, Athlete Deepika Kumari, Celebrated chef Mohammed Imtiaz Qureshi, Folk Poet Haldar Nag, Classical musician Pandit Tulsidas Borkar were honoured with Padma Shri.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and several Union Ministers were present on the occasion. The government had announced Padma awards for 112 eminent persons on the eve of Republic Day. The rest of the awardees, including superstar Rajinikanth, actor Priyanka Chopra and tennis star Sania Mirza, will be honoured at a separate function to be held next month.
