President confers Padma awards

New Delhi, March 28: President Prab Mukherjee on Monday conferred Padma awards on 56 eminent persolities, including Dhirubhai Ambani (posthumously), actor Anupam Kher and former Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Mukherjee bestowed Padma Vibhushan on Ambani, economist Avish Kamalakar Dixit, former Jammu and Kashmir governor Jagmohan, danseuse Yamini Krishmurthi and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Padma Bhushan awardees included architect Hafeez Sorabe Contractor, educationist and jourlist Barjinder Singh Hamdard, actor Anupam Kher, industrialist Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, badminton star Sai Nehwal, scientist Alla Ventaka Rama Rao and gastroenterologist Duvvur geshwar Reddy. The 43 Padma Shri awardees included ISRO scientist Mylswamy Andurai, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, actor Ajay Devgn, archer Deepika Kumari and celebrated chef Mohammed Imtiaz Qureshi. (IANS)