This year’s list includes 19 women awardees, six persons of Indian origin, and 16 posthumous honors.
The Government of India announced the prestigious Padma Awards, honoring 131 distinguished individuals for their exceptional contributions across various fields. The list includes several prominent names from public life, arts, cinema, literature, sports, and public affairs, with five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards this year.
Among the Padma Vibhushan awardees are veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous), former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan (posthumous), classical violinist N Rajam, former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas, and noted writer P Narayanan. The highest civilian award category recognizes “exceptional and distinguished service”.
(Clockwise) Singer Alka Yagnik, Uttarakhand CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari, actor Mammootty, and gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy have been awarded Padma Bhushan.
The Padma Bhushan list features several renowned personalities, including singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, advertising veteran Piyush Pandey (posthumous), social leader Vellappally Natesan, and tennis icon Vijay Amritraj. The category honors “distinguished service of high order”.
(Clockwise) Padma Bhushan recipients - Shibu Soren, Jharkhand ex-CM, banking veteran Uday Kotak, SNDP chief Vellappally Natesan, and BJP leader V K Malhotra.
The Padma Shri list for 2026 features a wide mix of nationally known figures and grassroots contributors, cutting across sports, arts, science, medicine, and social work. Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has been awarded the Padma Shri, along with women’s hockey player Savita Punia and women’s national cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the awardees on X, saying, “Congratulations to all the Padma Awardees for their outstanding contributions to our nation. Their excellence, dedication and service across diverse fields enrich the fabric of our society. The honor reflects the spirit of commitment and excellence that continues to inspire generations.”
(All photos courtesy: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, GoI)
