President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday honoured eminent personalities with Padma awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The award presentation ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan and was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Padma Awards are given to recognise people’s distinguished contribution in various fields including art, science, social work, public affairs, medicine, literature, sports, educations, trade and industry and civil services among many others.

Padma awards for the year 2016 were conferred by President Pranab Mukherjee .

56 persons were honoured in the first phase of the award ceremony organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Five persons including reknowned Industrialist late Dhirubhai Ambani, Former J&K Governor Jagmohan, Spritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Sankar were awarded Padma Vibhushan.

Noted Bollywood Actor Anupam Kher and prolific sportsperson Saina Nehwal received Padma Bhushan.

For significant contribution to regional music Malini awasthi was awarded padma shri along with film director Madhur Bhandarkar whose socially relavant cinema has received much accolade over the years.

A total of 56 personalities were awarded in the first phase of the prestigious awards ceremony.

The remaining 56 personalities will be conferred with honour in the second phase on 12th April.

Organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the padma award ceremony was also attended by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh, union ministers and several dignitaries.