Padma Awards 2026
Table of Contents
The Padma Awards 2026, among the highest civilian honours of India, were announced on Republic Day, 26 January 2026. These prestigious awards recognise individuals for exceptional service to the nation across diverse fields such as art, literature, science, medicine, social service, sports, public affairs, and civil service.
Conferred annually by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Padma Awards celebrate both national icons and unsung heroes, reinforcing India’s values of excellence, service, and inclusivity.
What are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are awarded in three categories, ranked after the Bharat Ratna:
| Category | Nature of Service |
|---|---|
| Padma Vibhushan | Exceptional and distinguished service |
| Padma Bhushan | Distinguished service of a high order |
| Padma Shri | Distinguished service in any field |
The Padma Awards are announced on Republic Day and conferred during March–April every year.
Padma Awards 2026: Key Statistics
For Padma Awards 2026, the President of India approved 131 awards in total.
| Category | Number of Awards |
|---|---|
| Padma Vibhushan | 5 |
| Padma Bhushan | 13 |
| Padma Shri | 113 |
| Total | 131 |
Highlights
- 19 women awardees
- 6 foreign / NRI / PIO / OCI awardees
- 16 posthumous awards
- 45 “Unsung Heroes” recognised
Padma Vibhushan Awardees 2026
| Awardee | Field | State |
|---|---|---|
| Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| Shri K.T. Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| Ms. N. Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| Shri P. Narayanan | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| Shri V.S. Achuthanandhan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
Padma Shri Awardees from Andhra Pradesh (2026)
| Awardee | Field |
|---|---|
| Shri Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad | Art |
| Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous) | Art |
| Shri Maganti Murali Mohan | Art |
| Shri Vempaty Kutumba Sastry | Literature & Education |
Padma Shri Awardees from Telangana (2026)
| Awardee | Field |
|---|---|
| Ms. Deepika Reddy | Art |
| Shri Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy | Medicine |
| Shri Guduru Venkat Rao | Medicine |
| Shri Chandramouli Gaddamanugu | Science & Engineering |
| Shri Krishnamurty Balasubramanian | Science & Engineering |
| Shri Kumarasamy Thangaraj | Science & Engineering |
| Shri Rama Reddy Mamidi (Posthumous) | Animal Husbandry |
Sports Personalities Honoured with Padma Awards 2026
All the mentioned sports personalities were honoured with Padma Shri Awards 2026.
- Rohit Sharma – Cricket
- Harmanpreet Kaur – Women’s Cricket
- Savita Punia – Hockey
- Baldev Singh – Hockey
- Vijay Amritraj – Tennis
- Bhagwandas Raikwar – Akhara Culture (Martial Art)
- K. Pajanivel – Silambattam (Martial Art)
Science, Governance & “Unsung Heroes”
Padma Awards 2026 also honoured individuals who shaped India quietly but profoundly:
- M. Jagadesh Kumar – Former UGC Chairman
- Shashi Shekhar Vempati – Former CEO, Prasar Bharati
- Budha Krishna Mani – Archaeologist (Ayodhya & Sarnath excavations)
- Chandramouli Gaddamanugu – Akash Missile Programme (Operation Sindoor)
- A.E. Muthunayagam – Cryogenic Propulsion (ISRO)
- K. Vijay Kumar – Former CRPF D-G (Veerappan STF)
- Ashok Khade – Dalit entrepreneur in offshore fabrication
- Ashok Kumar Singh – Agriculture scientist (25+ rice varieties)
- Asok Kumar Haldar – Dalit author & railway guard
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Padma Awards 2026
What are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are India’s highest civilian honours given annually to recognise distinguished service in various fields.
How many Padma Awards were given in 2026?
A total of 131 Padma Awards were approved for 2026.
When are Padma Awards announced?
They are announced on Republic Day (26 January) every year.
Who gives the Padma Awards?
The President of India confers the Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Which is the highest Padma Award?
Padma Vibhushan is the highest among the three Padma awards.
Previously Asked Questions on Padma Awards
1) Padma Awards are given for excellence only in arts and literature.
2) Padma Awards are announced on Republic Day every year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 2 only
Explanation: Padma Awards are conferred for distinguished service in diverse fields such as art, literature, science, medicine, sports, social work, and public affairs. They are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day, making statement 2 correct and statement 1 incorrect.
1) They are civilian awards.
2) They are titles within the meaning of Article 18 of the Constitution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1 only
Explanation: Padma Awards are civilian honours. However, the Supreme Court clarified in 1995 that Padma Awards are not titles under Article 18, as they do not carry hereditary privileges or official prefixes/suffixes.
A) Padma Shri
B) Padma Bhushan
C) Padma Vibhushan
D) Bharat Ratna
Answer: Bharat Ratna
Explanation: Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India. The order of civilian honours is Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
A) Prime Minister of India
B) Chief Justice of India
C) President of India
D) Parliament of India
Answer: President of India
Explanation: Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A) Exceptional service
B) Distinguished service of a high order
C) Distinguished service in any field
D) Lifetime achievement only
Answer: Distinguished service in any field
Explanation: Padma Shri is awarded for distinguished service in any field, whereas Padma Bhushan is for distinguished service of a high order and Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service.
A) 1947
B) 1950
C) 1954
D) 1962
Answer: 1954
Explanation: Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954 to recognise distinguished civilian service in various fields.
A) Padma Shri only
B) Padma Bhushan only
C) Padma Vibhushan only
D) All Padma Awards
Answer: All Padma Awards
Explanation: All Padma Awards can be awarded posthumously, though such awards are given only in highly deserving cases.
A) Independence Day
B) Republic Day
C) Budget Day
D) Gandhi Jayanti
Answer: Republic Day
Explanation: Padma Awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day, i.e., 26 January.
For Aspirants
The Padma Awards 2026 are more than ceremonial honours they reflect India’s commitment to recognising excellence across art, science, service, and social transformation. For competitive exam aspirants, understanding who is honoured and why is crucial for mastering current affairs in their respective exams.
