NEW DELHI: The Government of India has officially announced the Padma Awards 2026 in recognition of exceptional and distinguished service across multiple fields including arts, public affairs, medicine, literature, education, sports, science and engineering, social work, civil service, and trade and industry. Among the most notable recipients, veteran actor Dharmendra has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, while cricketer Rohit Sharma has been conferred the Padma Shri for his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket.
Overview of Padma Awards 2026
This year, the Padma Awards list features:
- 19 women awardees,
- 6 foreigners or persons of Indian origin abroad, and
- 16 posthumous honours, reflecting the government’s aim to recognise diverse contributions to society.
The awards are distributed across three categories:
- Padma Vibhushan – For exceptional and distinguished service.
- Padma Bhushan – For distinguished service of high order.
- Padma Shri – For distinguished service in any field.
Key Recipients from the List
Notable Padma Vibhushan Awardees:
- Dharmendra (posthumous) – Legendary Bollywood actor with decades-long contributions to Indian cinema.
- V. S. Achuthanandan (posthumous) – Former Chief Minister of Kerala.
- Justice K. T. Thomas – Former Supreme Court Justice.
Padma Bhushan Awardees:
- Mammootty – Iconic Malayalam actor, recognized for contribution to arts and cinema.
- Vellapally Natesan – Social and cultural leader.
Padma Shri Awardees:
- Rohit Sharma – Indian cricket team captain, awarded for exceptional sporting achievements.
- Devaki Amma (92) – Environmentalist from Alappuzha, Kerala, recognized for decades-long work in afforestation and conservation.
- Other notable recipients include S G Susheelamma, Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sant Niranjan Dass, and Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj.
Complete List of 58 Recipients
- Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar
- Mangala Kapoor
- Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai
- Mohan Nagar
- Narayan Vyas
- Naresh Chandra Dev Varma
- Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala
- Nuruddin Ahmed
- Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan
- Padma Gurmet
- Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy
- Pokhila Lekthepi
- Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore
- Prateek Sharma
- Praveen Kumar
- Prem Lal Gautam
- Prosenjit Chatterjee
- Punniamurthy Natesan
- R Krishnan (posthumous)
- R V S Mani
- Rabilal Tudu
- Raghupat Singh (posthumous)
- Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar
- Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar
- Rajendra Prasad
- Rama Reddy Mamidi (posthumous)
- Ramamurthy Sreedher
- Ramchandra Godbole
- Suneeta Godbole
- Ratilal Borisagar
- Rohit Sharma
- S G Susheelamma
- Sangyusang S Pongener
- Sant Niranjan Dass
- Sarat Kumar Patra
- Saroj Mandal
- Satish Shah (posthumous)
- Satyanarayan Nuwal
- Savita Punia
- Shafi Shauq
- Shashi Shekhar Vempati
- Shrirang Devaba Lad
- Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar
- Shyam Sundar
- Simanchal Patro
- Sivasankari
- Suresh Hanagavadi
- Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj
- T T Jagannathan (posthumous)
- Taga Ram Bheel
- Tarun Bhattacharya
- Techi Gubin
- Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam
- Tripti Mukherjee
- Veezhinathan Kamakoti
- Vempaty Kutumba Sastry
- Vladimer Mestvirishvili (posthumous)
- Yumnam Jatra Singh (posthumous)
Significance
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours, acknowledging individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their respective domains. The inclusion of posthumous awards highlights the government’s recognition of lasting legacies, while the presence of women and foreign nationals reflects India’s commitment to diversity and global engagement.
The President of India will formally confer the awards at an investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year.
Summary: The Padma Awards 2026 list celebrates a broad spectrum of achievement—from arts and sports to science, public service, and social work—cementing the legacies of iconic figures like Dharmendra and Rohit Sharma while honoring unsung heroes from across India and abroad.
