Padma Awards 2026 Announced on Republic Day Eve

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jan 25, 2026: The Union government on Sunday announced the list of Padma Awards recipients for 2026 on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, honouring eminent personalities for distinguished service in diverse fields.

For 2026, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including two duo cases (counted as one award each). The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.

Among the awardees are 19 women, six foreign nationals/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs, and 16 persons honoured posthumously. The awards recognise contributions in fields such as social work, literature and education, healthcare, public affairs, sports, arts and community service.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren will be conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously for his contribution to public affairs. Singer Alka Yagnik, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, social leader Vellappally Natesan and former tennis player Vijay Amritraj are among other Padma Bhushan awardees.

Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar will receive the Padma Shri in the field of sports. Other Padma Shri awardees include former UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, para-athlete Praveen Kumar, actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, and actor R Madhavan.

The Padma Awards are among the country’s highest civilian honours and are conferred annually to recognise exceptional and distinguished service to the nation.