The Central Government has released the list of Padma Awards 2026 on the eve of Republic Day. The Padma Awards, among the country’s highest civilian honours, are conferred every year on eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions in fields such as art, literature, science, sports, social service, and public life.
This year, a total of 131 Padma Awards have been approved by the President of India. These include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
Padma Vibhushan Awardees
Among those honoured with the Padma Vibhushan this year are former Kerala Chief Minister late V.S. Achuthanandan, awarded posthumously for his contribution to public affairs, and veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol, also honoured posthumously for his contribution to the arts.
Other prominent names included in the Padma Vibhushan list are M.S. N. Rajam and K.T. Thomas.
Padma Bhushan Awardees
The Padma Bhushan has been awarded to 13 distinguished personalities this year. The list includes singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, and sports icon Vijay Amritraj, among others.
Padma Shri Awardees
The Padma Shri awards include several well-known names from across different fields. Among them are cricketer Rohit Sharma and actor R. Madhavan, along with achievers from arts, literature, medicine, sports, science, and social service.
State-wise Distribution of Awards
According to official information, Maharashtra received the highest number of Padma Awards this year with 15 recipients. This is followed by Tamil Nadu (13), Uttar Pradesh (11), West Bengal (11), and Kerala (8).
The Padma Awards will be formally presented by the President of India at a special ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan during March–April.
Special Achievement for Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh has received special recognition this year, with two names from the state included in the Padma Shri list:
Dr Budhri Tati has been awarded the Padma Shri for Social Service.
Shri Ramchandra Godbole and Smt Sunita Godbole (as a couple) have been awarded the Padma Shri in the field of Medicine.
These honours are being seen as a national recognition of long-standing and dedicated contributions made in the fields of healthcare and social service in Chhattisgarh.
