Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Centre on January 25 announced the Padma Awards for 2026, approving 131 civilian honours across the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri categories. The list includes several prominent names from public life, arts, cinema, literature, sports and public affairs, with five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards this year.
Among the Padma Vibhushan awardees are veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous), former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan (posthumous), classical violinist N Rajam, former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas, and noted writer P Narayanan. The highest civilian award category recognises “exceptional and distinguished service”. The Padma Bhushan list features several reknowned personalities, including singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, advertising veteran Piyush Pandey (posthumous), social leader Vellappally Natesan, and tennis icon Vijay Amritraj. The category honours “distinguished service of high order”.
The Padma Shri list for 2026 features a wide mix of nationally known figures and grassroots contributors, cutting across sports, arts, science, medicine and social work. Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has been awarded the Padma Shri, along with women’s hockey player Savita Punia and women’s national cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the awardees on X, saying, “Congratulations to all the Padma Awardees for their outstanding contributions to our nation. Their excellence, dedication and service across diverse fields enrich the fabric of our society. The honour reflects the spirit of commitment and excellence that continues to inspire generations.”