The Government of India unveiled the prestigious Padma Awards for 2026 on Sunday, marking the eve of the 77th Republic Day celebrations. In a significant announcement, the Centre conferred honors upon 131 distinguished individuals who have made exceptional contributions across various domains of public life.
Comprehensive Recognition Across Three Categories
The Padma Awards, which rank among India's highest civilian honors, are distributed across three distinct categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. This year's list comprises five Padma Vibhushan awards, thirteen Padma Bhushan recognitions, and 113 Padma Shri honors. The government statement clarified that the total count includes two special cases where awards for two individuals are counted as single entries.
Padma Vibhushan: Posthumous Honors and Lifetime Achievements
The Padma Vibhushan recipients include several notable figures honored posthumously. Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran communist leader V S Achuthanandan and legendary actor Dharmendra have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan for their monumental contributions. The living recipients in this category include former Supreme Court Justice K T Thomas for public affairs, Hindustani classical musician and violinist N Rajam for arts, and eminent Malayalam journalist P Narayanan for literature and education.
Padma Bhushan: Financial Luminary and Cultural Icons
Among the Padma Bhushan awardees, veteran banker and industrialist Uday Kotak stands out for his transformative contributions to India's financial sector. The Home Ministry confirmed that playback singer Alka Yagnik, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and acclaimed actor Mammootty have also received this honor. Additional Padma Bhushan recipients include advertising pioneer Piyush Pandey, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren, BJP leader V K Malhotra, and tennis legend Vijay Amritraj.
Padma Shri: Sports Stars and Academic Leaders
The Padma Shri category features a diverse array of achievers from various fields. Actor and comedian Satish Shah has been honored posthumously, while cricket captain Rohit Sharma, women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and hockey player Savita Punia represent the sports contingent. Academic excellence is recognized through former Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar and former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati. Actors R Madhavan and Prosenjit Chatterjee also feature among the Padma Shri recipients.
Diversity and Inclusivity in Award Selection
The 2026 Padma Awards demonstrate remarkable diversity across multiple dimensions. The list includes 90 women awardees, representing significant gender inclusion in national recognition. Six individuals from categories including foreigners, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) have been honored, reflecting the global impact of Indian talent. Additionally, 16 awards have been conferred posthumously, ensuring legacy recognition for departed contributors.
The awardees span an impressive range of fields including public service, arts, cinema, literature, sports, science, and social work, showcasing the government's commitment to recognizing excellence across all sectors of Indian society. The announcement comes as part of the annual Republic Day tradition, where the nation celebrates its constitutional values by honoring those who have significantly contributed to its progress and cultural heritage.
