Government Announces 2026 Padma Awards List with 131 Honourees
The Centre on Sunday unveiled the prestigious Padma Awards for the year 2026, conferring honours upon 131 distinguished individuals from various fields. The list includes several posthumous awards, most notably to legendary film star Dharmendra and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
Posthumous Recognition for Icons
Veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol, who passed away on November 24, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in the Art category. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who died on August 4 last year, receives the Padma Bhushan posthumously in the Public Affairs category.
Breakdown of the 2026 Padma Awards
According to the official announcement approved by the President of India, this year's Padma Awards comprise:
- 5 Padma Vibhushan awards for exceptional and distinguished service
- 13 Padma Bhushan awards recognising distinguished service of a high order
- 113 Padma Shri awards for distinguished service in any field
Of the total 131 awardees, 19 are women, reflecting the growing recognition of women's contributions across sectors. The list also includes six awardees from categories of foreigners, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), highlighting India's expanding global cultural and professional influence.
Notable Awardees Across Categories
The Padma Vibhushan recipients include K T Thomas (Public Affairs), N Rajam (Art), P Narayanan (Literature & Education), and V S Achuthanandhan (Posthumous, Public Affairs) alongside Dharmendra.
Among the Padma Bhushan awardees are playback singer Alka Yagnik (Art), former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Public Affairs), Malayalam superstar Mammootty (Art), banker Uday Kotak (Trade & Industry), and tennis legend Vijay Amritraj (Sports).
The extensive Padma Shri list of 113 honourees spans diverse fields including medicine, social work, sports, literature, and engineering, featuring names such as cricketer Rohit Sharma, hockey player Savita Punia, and many distinguished professionals from across India.
Diverse Representation Across Disciplines
The 2026 Padma Awards list demonstrates remarkable diversity, with achievers recognised from numerous disciplines including:
- Art and Culture
- Social Work and Public Affairs
- Medicine and Healthcare
- Science and Engineering
- Literature and Education
- Sports and Athletics
- Trade and Industry
- Civil Services
This comprehensive recognition underscores the government's commitment to honouring excellence across all sectors of Indian society. The awards ceremony, typically held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, represents one of the highest civilian honours in the country, celebrating both lifetime achievements and ongoing contributions to national development.
