The recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards 2026—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri—were announced on Saturday, a day ahead of Republic Day. A total of 45 eminent individuals from across India have been selected for their exceptional contributions in diverse fields.
All awardees will be formally honoured by the President of India at a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in the country, recognising excellence and selfless service in areas such as social work, art, culture, education, science, public affairs, and other disciplines.
Celebrating India’s Diversity and Grassroots Excellence
This year’s Padma awardees come from varied regions and backgrounds, reflecting India’s cultural diversity and the government’s emphasis on acknowledging both nationally recognised figures and grassroots changemakers.
The awards celebrate individuals who have dedicated their lives to preserving heritage, advancing knowledge, improving social welfare, and uplifting communities—often away from the public spotlight.
Unsung Heroes Take Centre Stage
Several “unsung heroes” feature prominently among the Padma Shri recipients this year.
- A former bus conductor who went on to establish the world’s largest free-access library
- A paediatrician who pioneered Asia’s first human milk bank
- A 90-year-old tribal musician preserving a rare traditional instrument
Among them is Anke Gowda (75) from Karnataka, who transformed his passion for books into Pustak Mane, a unique library housing over two million books and rare manuscripts in nearly 20 languages, empowering learners across the country.
Notable Contributions Across Fields
Other notable awardees include:
- Dr Armida Fernandes, Mumbai-based paediatrician, for improving infant survival through human milk bank initiatives
- Bhagwandas Raikwar, a Bundeli war art trainer from Madhya Pradesh
- Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, a nonagenarian Tarpa musician from Maharashtra
- Brij Lal Bhatt, social worker from Jammu and Kashmir
The list also honours efforts in tribal education, folk art, genetic research, and indigenous knowledge preservation.
From Tribal Schools to Human Migration Research
The awardees’ work spans a wide spectrum:
- Budri Thati for establishing schools in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh
- Charan Hembram, Santhali author-composer preserving tribal language and culture
- Chiranjee Lal Yadav of Moradabad for mastery in brass engraving
- Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya, Gujarati folk art exponent
- Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj, Hyderabad-based geneticist whose research traced early human migration from Africa to India
Together, they embody quiet service and lifelong dedication to nation-building.
Complete List of Padma Award Recipients 2026
- Anke Gowda
- Armida Fernandes
- Bhagwandas Raikar
- Bhikhlya Ladkia Dhinda
- Brij Lal Bhatt
- Budri Thati
- Charan Hembrom
- Chiranjee Lal Yadav
- Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya
- Gaffaruddin Mewati Jogi
- Haily War
- Inderjit Singh Sidhu
- K Pazhanivel
- Kailash Chandra Pant
- Khem Raj Sundriyal
- Kollakkayli Devaki Amma ji
- Kumaraswamy Thangaraj
- Mahendra Kumar Mishra
- Meer Hajibhai Kasambhai
- Mohan Nagar
- Naresh Chandra Dev Verma
- Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala
- Nuruddin Ahmed
- Othuvar Tiruthani Swaminathan
- Padma Gurmeet
- Pokhila Lekthepi
- Punniyamurthy Natesan
- R Krishnan
- Raghupat Singh
- Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar
- Rajastapathi Kaiiappa Gounder
- Rama Reddy Mamidi
- Ramchandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole
- SG Sushila Amma
- Sangyusang S Pongenor
- Shafi Shouk
- Shrirang Devba Lad
- Shyam Sundar
- Simanchal Patro
- Suresh Hangawadi
- Taga Ram Bhil
- Techie Gubin
- Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam
- Vishva Bandhu
- Yumnaam Jatra Singh
