Padma Awards 2026 announced: 131 civilian honours approved ahead of Republic Day
The Union government has announced the Padma Awards 2026 list on the eve of Republic Day, with President Droupadi Murmu approving 131 awards across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The honours span public affairs, arts, sports, industry, medicine and more, continuing the focus on recognising both prominent achievers and ‘unsung heroes’.
What was announced
On Sunday, 25 January 2026, the Padma Awards list for 2026 was released on the eve of Republic Day. As per the official announcement, President Droupadi Murmu approved 131 civilian honours in total, including two duo cases (each duo counted as one award).
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a high order) and Padma Shri (for distinguished service in any field).
Break-up of awards
- Padma Vibhushan: 5 awardees
- Padma Bhushan: 13 awardees
- Padma Shri: 113 awardees
The list also includes women awardees and recipients from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, and it features multiple posthumous honours. The awards are typically presented by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the year, usually in March or April.
Notable names highlighted in reports
Media reports noted several well-known names among the awardees, including Dharmendra (posthumous Padma Vibhushan), singer Alka Yagnik (Padma Bhushan), Malayalam actor Mammootty (Padma Bhushan), banker Uday Kotak (Padma Bhushan) and sportsperson Vijay Amritraj (Padma Bhushan).
Beyond celebrity and high-profile public figures, the 2026 list was also described as continuing the emphasis on recognising grassroots contributors and ‘unsung heroes’ across fields such as social work, public service, traditional arts and community-level innovation.
Why it matters
The Padma Awards announcement, made annually around Republic Day, is a broad national signal about the kinds of achievements and service India chooses to publicly honour—from lifetime contributions in arts and culture to high-impact work in public affairs, healthcare, science, sports and industry.