Ramoji Rao, Saina, Sania, Rajamouli Get Padmas

The Centre on Monday announced the coveted "Padma Awards" for 2016 for eminent personalities for their outstanding performances in and illustrious contributions to various fields including journalism, industry, science and technology, dance, film, music, sports and spirituality, in the country.

The Centre offers the awards every year, and for 2016 it announced 10 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 87 Padmasri awards.

Those who will receive Padma Vibhushan awards are Eenadu group Chairman Ramoji Rao for his contribution to journalism, Dhirubhai Ambani for his contribution to business (posthumously), and actor Rajanikanth for his contribution to the movie field.

Others to receive the Padma Vibhushan awards in the respective fields are Yamini Krishnamurthi (dance), Anupam Kher (movies), Ravishankar (spirituality), Jagmohan (public affairs - he is a former Jammu and Kashmir Governor), Girija Devi (music), Viswanathan Shantha (medicine), Dr Vasudev Aatre (science and engineering) and Avinash Dixit (literature and education).

Saina Nehwal for badminton and Sania Mirza for tennis will Padma Bhushans along with 19 others including Y Lakshmi Prasad, Dr Nageshwar Reddy, Udit Narayan, Vinod Roy, Brijender Singh, Baljinder Singh, Swamy Tejomayananda, Ram Suthar, Prof Ramanuja Thathacharya and Hisnam Kanhelal.

S S Rajamouli, Ajay Devgan, Priyanka Chopra, Ujwal Nikam, Avasthi and others will get the Padmasri awards.

The President is to honor them with these awards in a ceremony in Delhi on January 26.