On the occasion of Republic Day 2026, the Union government has announced the Padma Awards, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. This year, a total of 131 Padma awards will be conferred. These include five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. The list features 19 women, six foreign/NRI/OCI citizens, and 16 posthumous awardees, according to an official press release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Padma Awards are given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions in fields such as art, literature, education, medicine, science, sports, social service, industry, and public life. The awards will be presented by the President of India at a formal ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Padma Vibhushan: Honouring Exceptional National Service
Among the recipients of the Padma Vibhushan this year is legendary actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (Dharmendra), who has been honoured posthumously for his contribution to the field of arts.
Senior Kerala leader V.S. Achuthanandan has also been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his contribution to public life.
Other recipients include renowned violinist N. Rajam, P. Narayanan for his contribution to literature and education, and former Supreme Court judge Justice K. T. Thomas.
Padma Bhushan: Prominent Names from Arts, Sports, and Public Life
The Padma Bhushan awardees include celebrated playback singer Alka Yagnik, legendary Malayalam cinema actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, and former Indian tennis star Vijay Amritraj.
The list also includes former Uttarakhand Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, senior Jharkhand leader Shibu Soren (posthumous), advertising industry stalwart Piyush Pandey (posthumous), along with several distinguished personalities from the fields of social service, medicine, and arts.
Padma Shri: National Recognition for Grassroots Contributions
This year, 113 individuals have been honoured with the Padma Shri. The awardees come from diverse fields including science and engineering, medicine, literature, sports, agriculture, archaeology, social service, and folk arts.
From the world of sports, Rohit Sharma, Savita Punia, and Harmanpreet Kaur have been honoured. The list also includes social workers involved in rural development, doctors providing services in India and abroad, and artists and writers who have dedicated decades to literature and folk traditions.
Indian Honours Extend Beyond Borders
The Padma Awards list also features individuals of Indian origin and foreign nationals residing in countries such as the United States, Russia, and Germany, who have been recognised for their contributions to India.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the awards will be formally presented by the President during ceremonial functions to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March–April 2026.