Padma Awards 2026 represent the pinnacle of civilian recognition in India. Every year, the government announces these honours on the eve of Republic Day. These awards certainly celebrate individuals who show exceptional dedication to their fields. Finally, the President of India approves the list after a rigorous selection process.
In 2026, the nation continues this tradition by honouring 131 unsung heroes and global icons. Together with these, three eminent personalities from Rajasthan will receive the Padma Shri award. This time, the Padma Award 2026 winners are Shri Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, Swami Brahmadev Ji Maharaj, and Shri Taga Ram Bhil from Rajasthan.
These people come from diverse backgrounds like art, social work, science, and sports. Although the ceremony usually takes place at Rashtrapati Bhawan in the spring. It is a moment of great pride for the entire country. Additionally, we see the best of the human spirit and service through these recipients.
The Significance of Padma Awards 2026
The Padma Awards 2026 highlight the cultural and social diversity of India. The selection committee looks for excellence in every corner of the nation. Finally, they prioritise “People’s Padma” by focusing on grassroots achievers. Many winners certainly have worked silently for decades to improve society. Additionally, their stories inspire the youth to pursue excellence with integrity. Above all, transitioning from small villages to international stages, these awardees represent the soul of India.
The 2026 list includes 19 women and 16 posthumous honours. It also recognises 6 individuals from the NRI and foreign category. Thus, this global reach shows India’s growing influence and appreciation for international talent.
Which is the Highest Padma Award?
Many people ask which honour sits at the top of this prestigious hierarchy. Padma Vibhushan is the highest award among the three Padma categories. Furthermore, it is ranked just below the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. The government confers the Padma Vibhushan for “exceptional and distinguished service.” It is awarded following the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order. Finally, the Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field. In 2026, only five individuals received the Padma Vibhushan. Thus, this exclusivity makes it one of the most respected titles in the world.
Who Got the Padma Shri Award in 2026?
The Padma Shri Award in 2026 was conferred upon 113 remarkable individuals. Several famous personalities from the world of sports and cinema made the list. In brief, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma received the honour for his leadership and batting excellence. Women’s cricket icon Harmanpreet Kaur also joined the elite group of awardees. Additionally, from the film industry, actors R. Madhavan and Prosenjit Chatterjee were recognised for their artistic contributions. Moreover, in the field of medicine, Dr Armida Fernandez and Dr Saroj Mandal received the award for their life-saving work. However, these names represent only a fraction of the talent honoured this year. Although each recipient has a unique story of perseverance and success.
What is the Prize Money for Padma Awards?
A common misconception exists regarding the financial aspect of these honours. There is no prize money attached to the Padma Awards. The recognition is purely honorary and does not include any monthly pension or cash grant. But winners receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India. They also receive a medallion and a small replica for ceremonial events. Moreover, the award is not a title.
Quick Facts: Padma Awards 2026
| Category | Total Awards in 2026 |
| Padma Vibhushan | 5 |
| Padma Bhushan | 13 |
| Padma Shri | 113 |
| Total | 131 |
Read About Mona Agarwal from Rajasthan, the Arjun Award Winner
Padma Awards 2026 Winners List
Winners List of Padma Vibhushan (5)
- 1- Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) – Arts – Maharashtra
- 2- Shri K.T. Thomas – Public Affairs – Kerala
- 3- Ms N. Rajam – Arts – Uttar Pradesh
- 4- Shri P. Narayanan – Literature and Education – Kerala
- 5- Shri V.S. Achuthanandan (posthumous) – Public Affairs – Kerala
Padma Bhushan Awards 2026 (13)
- 6- Ms Alka Yagnik – Arts – Maharashtra
- 7- Mr Bhagat Singh Koshyari – Public Affairs – Uttarakhand
- 8- Mr Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswami – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
- 9- Mr Mammootty – Arts – Kerala
- 10- Dr Nori Dattatreyadu – Medicine – United States
- 11- Mr Piyush Pandey (posthumous) – Arts – Maharashtra
- 12- Mr S.K.M. Mailanandan – Social Work – Tamil Nadu
- 13- Mr Shatavadhani R. Ganesh – Arts – Karnataka
- 14- Mr Shibu Soren (posthumous) – Public Affairs – Jharkhand
- 15- Mr Uday Kotak – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
- 16- Mr V.K. Malhotra (posthumously) – Public Affairs – Delhi
- 17-Mr Vellappally Natesan – Public Affairs – Kerala
- 18-Mr Vijay Amritraj – Sports – United States
Winners List of Padma Shri – (113)
- 19- Mr A.E. Muthunayagam – Science and Engineering – Kerala
- 20- Mr Anil Kumar Rastogi – Arts – Uttar Pradesh.
- 21-Mr. Anke Gowda M. – Social Work – Karnataka
- 22-Ms. Armida Fernandez – Medicine – Maharashtra
- 23-Mr. Arvind Vaidya – Art – Gujarat
- 24-Mr. Ashok Khade – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
- 25-Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh – Science and Engineering – Uttar Pradesh
- 26-Mr. Ashok Kumar Haldar – Literature and Education – West Bengal
- 27-Mr. Baldev Singh – Sports – Punjab
- 28-Mr. Bhagwandas Raikwar – Sports – Madhya Pradesh
- 29-Mr. Bharat Singh Bharti – Art – Bihar
- 30-Mr. Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda – Art – Maharashtra
- 31-Mr. Vishwa Bandhu (posthumously) – Art – Bihar
- 32-Mr. Brij Lal Bhatt – Social Work – Jammu and Kashmir
- 33-Mr. Buddha Rashmi Mani – Other – Archaeology – Uttar Pradesh
- 34-Dr. Budhari Tati – Social Work – Chhattisgarh
- 35-Mr. Chandramouli Gaddamanugu – Science and Engineering – Telangana
- 36-Mr. Charan Hembram – Literature and Education – Odisha
- 37-Mr. Chiranji Lal Yadav – Art – Uttar Pradesh
- 38-Ms. Deepika Reddy – Art – Telangana
- 39-Mr. Dharamlal Chunilal Pandya – Art – Gujarat
- 40-Mr. Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad – Art – Andhra Pradesh
- 41-Mr. Gafruddin Mewati Jogi – Art – Rajasthan
- 42-Mr. Gambhir Singh Yonzon – Literature and Education – West Bengal
- 43-Mr. Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (posthumous) – Art – Andhra Pradesh
- 44-Ms. Gayatri Balasubramaniam and Ms Ranjani Balasubramaniam (duo) – Arts – Tamil Nadu
- 45-Mr. Gopal G. Trivedi – Science and Engineering – Bihar
- 46-Mr. Guduru Venkat Rao – Medicine – Telangana
- 47-Mr. H. V. Hande – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
- 48-Mr. Hailey War – Social Work – Meghalaya
- 49-Mr. Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (posthumous) – Arts – West Bengal
- 50-Mr. Haricharan Saikia – Arts – Assam
- 51- Ms Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar – Sports – Punjab
- 52- Mr. Inderjit Singh Sidhu – Social Work – Chandigarh
- 53- Mr Janardan Bapurao Bothe – Social Work – Maharashtra
- 54- Mr Jogesh Deuri – Others – Agriculture – Assam
- 55- Mr. Jujar Wasi – Science and Engineering – Maharashtra
- 56- Mr Jyotish Debnath – Arts – West Bengal
- 57- Mr K. Pazhanivel – Sports – Puducherry
- 58- Mr K. Ramasamy – Science and Engineering – Tamil Nadu
- 59- Mr K. Vijay Kumar – Civil Services – Tamil Nadu
- 60- Mr Kavindra Purkayastha (posthumously) – Public Affairs – Assam
- 61- Mr Kailash Chandra Pant – Literature and Education – Madhya Pradesh States
- 62-Ms. Kalamandalam Vimala Menon – Art – Kerala
- 63-Mr. Kewal Krishna Thakral – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
- 64-Mr. Khem Raj Sundariyal – Art – Haryana
- 65-Ms. Kollakkal Devaki Amma Ji – Social Work – Kerala
- 66-Mr. Krishnamurthy Balasubramaniam – Science and Engineering – Telangana
- 67-Mr. Kumar Bose – Art – West Bengal
- 68-Mr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj – Science and Engineering – Telangana
- 69-Prof. (Dr.) Lars Christian Koch – Art – Germany
- 70-Ms. Lyudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova – Literature and Education – Russia
- 71-Mr. Madhavan Ranganathan – Art – Maharashtra
- 72-Mr. Maganti Murali Mohan – Art – Andhra Pradesh
- 73-Mr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra – Literature and Education – Odisha
- 74-Mr. Mahendra Nath Roy – Literature and Education – West Bengal
- 75-Mr. Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar – Literature and Education – Delhi
- 76-Ms. Mangala Kapoor – Literature and Education – Uttar Pradesh
- 77-Mr. Mir Hajibhai Kasambai – Art – Gujarat
- 78-Mr. Mohan Nagar – Social Work – Madhya Pradesh
- 79-Mr. Narayan Vyas – Other – Archaeology – Madhya Pradesh
- 80-Mr. Naresh Chandra Dev Verma – Literature and Education – Tripura
- 81-Mr. Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala – Social Work – Gujarat
- 82-Mr. Nooruddin Ahmed – Art – Assam
- 83-Mr. Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan – Art – Tamil Nadu
- 84-Dr. Padma Gurmet – Medicine – Ladakh
- 85- Mr Palakonda Vijay Anand Reddy – Medicine – Telangana
- 86- Ms Pokhila Lekthepi – Arts – Assam
- 87- Dr Prabhakar Basavaprabhu Kore – Literature and Education – Karnataka
- 88- Mr Pratik Sharma – Medicine – United States
- 89- Mr Praveen Kumar – Sports – Uttar Pradesh
- 90- Mr Prem Lal Gautam – Science and Engineering – Himachal Pradesh
- 91- Mr Prosenjit Chatterjee – Arts – West Bengal
- 92- Dr Punniyamurthy Natesan – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
- 93- Shri R. Krishnan (posthumously) – Arts – Tamil Nadu
- 94- Shri R. V. S. Mani – Civil Services – Delhi
- 95- Shri Rabilal Tudu – Literature and Education – West Bengal
- 96- Shri Raghupat Singh (posthumously) – Others – Agriculture – Uttar Pradesh
- 97- Shri Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar – Arts – Maharashtra
- 98- Shri Rajasthapati Kaliappa Gounder – Arts – Tamil Nadu
- 99- Shri Rajendra Prasad – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
- 100- Shri Ram Reddy Mamidi (posthumously) – Others – Animal Husbandry – Telangana
- 101-Shri Rammurti Sridhar – Others – Radio Broadcasting – Delhi
- 102-Shri Ramchandra Godbole and Ms Sunita Godbole (duo) – Medicine – Chhattisgarh
- 103-Shri Ratilal Borisagar – Literature and Education – Gujarat
- 104-Shri Rohit Sharma – Sports – Maharashtra
- 105-Shri S.G. Sushilamma – Social Work – Karnataka
- 106-Shri Sangyusang S. Pongener – Arts – Nagaland
- 107-Sant Niranjan Das – Others – Spiritualism – Punjab
- 108-Shri Sharat Kumar Patra – Arts – Odisha
- 109-Shri Saroj Mandal – Medicine – West Bengal
- 110-Shri Satish Shah (posthumously) – Arts – Maharashtra
- 111-Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal – Business and Industry – Maharashtra
- 112-Ms. Savita Punia – Sports – Haryana
- 113-Prof. Shafi Shauq – Literature and Education – Jammu and Kashmir
- 114-Mr. Shashi Shekhar Vempati – Literature and Education – Karnataka
- 115-Mr. Shrirang Deoba Lad – Others – Agriculture – Maharashtra
- 116-Ms. Shubha Venkatesh Iyengar – Science and Engineering – Karnataka
- 117-Mr. Shyam Sundar – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
- 118-Mr. Seemanchal Patro – Art – Odisha
- 119-Ms. Shivshankari – Literature and Education – Tamil Nadu
- 120-Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi – Medicine – Karnataka
- 121-Swami Brahmadev Ji Maharaj – Social Work – Rajasthan
- 122-Shri T.T. Jagannathan (posthumous) – Trade and Industry – Karnataka
- 123-Shri Taga Ram Bhil – Art – Rajasthan
- 124-Shri Tarun Bhattacharya – Art – West Bengal
- 125-Shri Techi Gubin – Social Work – Arunachal Pradesh
- 126-Shri Tiruvarur Baktavatsalam – Art – Tamil Nadu
- 127-Ms. Tripti Mukherjee – Art – West Bengal
- 128-Shri Veezhinathan Kamakoti – Science and Engineering – Tamil Nadu
- 129-Shri Vempati Kutumba Shastri – Literature and Education – Andhra Pradesh
- 130-Shri Vladimir Mestvirishvili (posthumous) – Sports – Georgia
- 131 – Mr Yumnam Jatra Singh (posthumous) – Art – Manipur