The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the Padma Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

 

The Padma Awards, among the country’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri - to recognize exceptional and distinguished service across diverse disciplines and fields including art, literature and education, science and engineering, medicine, social work, public affairs, sports, civil service, trade and industry, among others. At this year’s ceremony, the President conferred the awards on 66 distinguished personalities including 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan and 58 Padma Shri awards in recognition of their exemplary contributions across varied fields.

For 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards - five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri. The awards will be conferred at two separate Civil Investiture ceremonies.

 

Among the awardees from Jammu & Kashmir, Prof. Shafi Shauq was conferred the Padma Shri for his distinguished contribution to the field of Literature and Education. An eminent creative writer, scholar and academician, Prof. Shafi Shauq has authored, edited and translated more than 106 books in Kashmiri, English, Hindi and Urdu. Born on 18 March 1950 in Kaprin village of Shopian district in Kashmir Valley, he completed his Bachelor of Science from the University of Kashmir in 1970 and subsequently pursued higher studies in English, earning his M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.

 

Prof. Shauq served the University of Kashmir for over 33 years, retiring as Head of the Department, Dean Faculty of Arts and Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning. A prolific writer, poet, translator and linguist, Prof. Shauq’s notable works include Kaeshur Lughat (a monolingual dictionary of Kashmiri), Yaad Aasmaanan Hinz, Zabaan ti Adab, Kaeshri Adabuk Tawaariekh and Kaeshur Grammar. His translation works include the acclaimed series The Best of Kashmiri Literature. He has also written scripts for numerous television serials and films.

 

Prof. Shauq has received several prestigious State and national honours, including the Best Book Award from the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (1995), Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry (2006), Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation (2007) and the Bhasha Samman Award from CIIL, Mysore. As a representative of Indian literary communities, he has participated in international literary and cultural engagements in China, Germany, London and Brazil.

 

Another distinguished personality from Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Brij Lal Bhat, is also among this year’s Padma Shri awardee in social work. He will receive the honour during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony to be held subsequently at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 

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