President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
Padma Awards 2026: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday unveiled the names of recipients who will receive the prestigious Padma Awards, the country’s civilian honours. President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
In the list of awardees, 19 were women and six were from the category of foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI. At least 16 people were awarded posthumously.
The Padma awards, among the country’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
Padma Vibhushan
Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’ Dharmendra, former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan are among those who have been awarded Padma Vibhushan (posthumously).
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan awardees include former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, US-based Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, late advertising legend Piyush Pandey, businessman Uday Kotak, veteran BJP leader VK Malhotra, actor Mammootty, singer Alka Yagnik, among others
