Nation Salutes Outstanding Achievers in Padma Awards 2026

On the occasion of Republic Day, India comes together to acknowledge citizens whose lifelong dedication and meaningful contributions have enriched the nation. The Padma Awards 2026 honour such individuals, recognising work that has quietly and steadily made a lasting difference across fields such as art, science, social service, sports, and public affairs. These awards reflect the nation’s deep respect for service guided by integrity, purpose, and commitment.

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The 2026 list of honourees represents a broad spectrum of excellence, bringing together respected artists, devoted social workers, distinguished scientists, and accomplished sportspersons.

While the recipients of the Padma Shri have been featured in earlier coverage, this article focuses on the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awardees, whose contributions and leadership continue to inspire and guide the nation.

The Legacy and Importance of the Padma Awards

Instituted in 1954 the Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours. Conferred annually they recognise extraordinary contributions without distinction of race occupation or gender. The awards are presented in three categories:

Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service
Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order
Padma Shri for notable contributions in any field of activity

Awardees receive a Sanad signed by the President and a medallion with an optional replica for ceremonial occasions. The awards celebrate excellence across disciplines such as art literature education medicine sports science and public service.

Key Highlights of Padma Awards 2026

The awards will be formally presented by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually during March or April, where awardees receive a Sanad and a medallion, with a replica available for ceremonial use.

Total awards approved: 131
Padma Vibhushan: 5
Padma Bhushan: 13
Padma Shri: 113
Women awardees: 19
Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI recipients: 6
Posthumous awards: 16
Duo cases: 2 (counted as one award each)

Padma Vibhushan Winners Who Demonstrated Exceptional Service

The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional contributions and this year it honours five individuals in fields such as art and public affairs. Their work exemplifies skill dedication and vision inspiring generations across the nation.

SN	Name	Field	State/Country
1	Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
2	Shri K T Thomas	Public Affairs	Kerala
3	Ms. N Rajam	Art	Uttar Pradesh
4	Shri P Narayanan	Literature and Education	Kerala
4	Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Kerala

Padma Bhushan Winners Who Set High Standards of Service

The Padma Bhushan honours distinguished service of a high order and this year 13 individuals have been recognised across medicine social work trade industry sports and art. Their contributions highlight leadership innovation and dedication to the nation.

SN	Name	Field	State/Country
6	Ms. Alka Yagnik	Art	Maharashtra
7	Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari	Public Affairs	Uttarakhand
8	Shri Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy	Medicine	Tamil Nadu
9	Shri Mammootty	Art	Kerala
10	Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu	Medicine	United States of America
11	Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
12	Shri S K M Maeilanandhan	Social Work	Tamil Nadu
13	Shri Shatavadhani R Ganesh	Art	Karnataka
14	Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Jharkhand
15	Shri Uday Kotak	Trade and Industry	Maharashtra
16	Shri V K Malhotra (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Delhi
17	Shri Vellappally Natesan	Public Affairs	Kerala
18	Shri Vijay Amritraj	Sports	United States of America

Padma Shri Winners Who Made Notable Contributions

The Padma Shri is conferred in recognition of distinguished contributions across a wide spectrum of fields, including art, literature and education, medicine, science and engineering, social work, sports, civil service, and other areas of national importance. In 2026, 113 individuals have been honoured with the Padma Shri, reflecting the diversity and depth of excellence across the country.

To ensure focused and detailed coverage, the complete category-wise details of Padma Shri awardees have been published separately, allowing readers to explore the achievements and journeys of these distinguished recipients in depth.

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Recognising Service That Shapes the Nation

The Padma Awards 2026 stand as a powerful celebration of vision, leadership, and dedication that continue to shape India’s journey forward. By honouring individuals from diverse fields and backgrounds, the nation acknowledges not just outstanding achievement, but lifelong commitment to service and excellence. These recognitions serve as a reminder that true progress is built by those who work with purpose, integrity, and an unwavering dedication to the greater good, values that inspire generations to come.