The Union Government on Sunday announced the Padma Awards for 2026 on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, conferring 131 civilian honours on individuals from across the country for distinguished and exceptional service in diverse fields, ranging from public life and arts to sports, social service, medicine and grassroots community work.
The list includes five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards, with 16 honours being conferred posthumously. Nineteen of the awardees are women, while six recipients belong to the categories of foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs and OCIs.
Among the most prominent names, former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) stalwart V S Achuthanandan has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Achuthanandan, who passed away in July 2025 at the age of 101, served as Kerala Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and was the state’s longest-serving Leader of the Opposition.
Legendary Hindi cinema icon Dharmendra has also been conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema across genres and generations. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren has been honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan for his decades-long role in tribal politics and public life. Veteran BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra has also received the Padma Bhushan posthumously. Former Maharashtra Governor and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari has been named for the Padma Bhushan, along with tennis legend Vijay Amritraj.
In sports, Indian cricket captains Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur have been conferred the Padma Shri for leading their teams to historic ICC titles, while para high jumper Praveen Kumar and hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia have also been honoured. Vijay Amritraj is the sole sports recipient of the Padma Bhushan this year.
A major highlight of the 2026 awards is the strong emphasis on recognising ‘unsung heroes’ who have worked quietly at the grassroots for decades. The list includes several individuals from marginalised communities, Dalit and backward sections, tribal groups and remote regions. Karnataka-based social worker Anke Gowda is among those awarded the Padma Shri for long-term community service. In total, awardees hail from 84 districts across 30 states and Union Territories, with 10 districts being represented for the first time since Independence.
The awards also reflect continued focus on contributions towards Divyangjan, women, children, Dalits and tribal communities, as well as work in education, healthcare, sanitation, sustainability and livelihoods. Nearly 48 awardees are super senior citizens aged 80 and above, underlining lifetime service across fields.
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually in March or April each year.
