Padma Awards 2026 announced: 131 honours approved across fields ahead of Republic Day
The government has released the Padma Awards 2026 list on the eve of Republic Day, approving 131 civilian honours across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The recipients span arts, public affairs, industry, medicine, sports and social work, with several awards granted posthumously and a mix of Indian and overseas awardees.
Padma Awards list released on Republic Day eve
India on Sunday announced the Padma Awards 2026 list on the eve of Republic Day, with President Droupadi Murmu approving 131 civilian honours across three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards recognise distinguished service across a wide range of disciplines, including arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil services.
As per the official tally carried by multiple reports, the 2026 list includes five Padma Vibhushan awards, 13 Padma Bhushan awards and 113 Padma Shri awards, with two “duo cases” counted as single awards. The line-up also includes posthumous honours, women awardees and recipients from the foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, reflecting the effort to recognise contributions cutting across geography and sectors.
High-profile recipients and diverse fields
Among the names highlighted this year are veteran actor Dharmendra, who has been announced for Padma Vibhushan (posthumous), while the Padma Bhushan list includes figures from culture and public life such as singer Alka Yagnik and actor Mammootty, alongside other prominent awardees. Reports also note the presence of leading personalities from business, public affairs and sports among the honourees.
The Padma Awards are typically conferred by the President at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the year, usually around March or April. The annual announcement on the Republic Day occasion remains one of the country’s most closely watched acknowledgements of lifetime contribution and sustained public service.
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are conferred in three categories—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri—across a broad spectrum of work.