For the year 2026, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the official list of Padma awardees recognising excellence in Art, Public Affairs, Sports, and Social Work. President Droupadi Murmu has approved 131 awards this year: 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. In its inclusive 2026 cohort, there are 19 women, 16 posthumous awardees, and 6 individuals from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category.
Padma Vibhushan: The Highest Distinction
The country’s second highest civilian award was given to five notable personalities, including a posthumous honor for the "He-Man" of Bollywood.
| Name | Field | State/Country |
| Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| V.S. Achuthanandhan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| K.T. Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| N. Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| P. Narayanan | Literature & Education | Kerala |
Padma Bhushan: Distinguished Service of High Order
Thirteen members of the public were awarded the Padma Bhushan, among them senior politicians and cultural icons.
- Shibu Soren (Posthumous): Public Affairs (Jharkhand)
- Mammootty: Art (Kerala)
- Alka Yagnik: Art (Maharashtra)
- Uday Kotak: Trade & Industry (Maharashtra)
- Vijay Amritraj: Sports (USA/India)
- Bhagat Singh Koshyari: Public Affairs (Uttarakhand)
- Piyush Pandey (Posthumous): Art (Maharashtra)
Padma Shri: Commemorating Excellence and Underappreciated Heroes
Ahead of the Padma Shri list (113 nominees) are sporting heroes and grassroots contributors.
Key Athletes
- Rohit Sharma: Acknowledged for his leadership in Indian cricket after India’s recent ICC triumphs.
- Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar: Her groundbreaking involvement in women’s cricket.
- Savita Punia: For her exceptional service to Indian Hockey.
Art & Education
- R. Madhavan: For his multi-faceted contribution to Indian cinema.
- Prosenjit Chatterjee: Icon of Bengali cinema.
- Satish Shah (Posthumous): Celebrated veteran actor.
- Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar: Literature and Education (Delhi).
The unassuming heroes
True to the "People’s Padma" spirit, almost 45 winners are unsung heroes:
- Anke Gowda M: Social Work (Karnataka)
- Mangala Kapoor: Literature & Education (Uttar Pradesh)
- Brij Lal Bhat: Social Work (Jammu & Kashmir)
Comparing the Padma Awards Hierarchy
The Padma Awards are traditionally presented at an official ceremony performed by India’s President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March or April.
