Padma Awards to be presented on March 23, April 5

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) The Padma Awards for 2006 will be presented to the recipients by President A P J Abdul Kalam in two batches on March 23 and April 5.

Home Ministry sources told UNI here today that 62 awardees of Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan would be conferred the awards at a ceremony to be held at the historic Ashoka Hall in RAshtrapathi Bhavan on March 23.

The second batch of 58 awardees from the three categories would receive the awards on April 5 at the same venue.

Sources said the intimation letters have already been despatched to all the 120 eminent persons whose names were announced for the three categories of civilian awards on January 25 last.

There was no nomination for the highest civilian award of "Bharat Ratna" this year.

UNI