The Government of India has announced the Padma Awards 2026, honouring 131 individuals across diverse fields. This year’s highlights include posthumous Padma Vibhushan awards for veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, while cricketer Rohit Sharma and actor R. Madhavan feature among Padma Shri recipients.
🏅 Padma Awards 2026 – Key Highlights
- Total Awards: 131
- Padma Vibhushan: 5
- Padma Bhushan: 13
- Padma Shri: 113
- Posthumous Awards: 16
- Women Awardees: 19
- Foreigners/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs: 6
✨ Notable Recipients
Padma Vibhushan (Exceptional & Distinguished Service)
- Dharmendra Singh Deol (Art – Cinema) – Posthumous
- V.S. Achuthanandan (Public Affairs) – Posthumous
- Other eminent personalities honoured for contributions in public affairs and arts.
Padma Bhushan (Distinguished Service of High Order) - Shibu Soren (Public Affairs) – Posthumous
- Recognitions across medicine, literature, and social work.
Padma Shri (Distinguished Service in Any Field) - Rohit Sharma (Sports – Cricket)
- R. Madhavan (Art – Cinema)
- Mammootty (Art – Malayalam Cinema)
- Several awardees from science, engineering, medicine, social service, and civil service.
📊 Distribution by Fields
- Arts & Cinema: Dharmendra, Mammootty, R. Madhavan
- Sports: Rohit Sharma
- Public Affairs: V.S. Achuthanandan, Shibu Soren
- Medicine & Science: Multiple distinguished doctors and scientists
- Social Work & Civil Service: Numerous grassroots leaders and administrators
Significance of Padma Awards
- Among India’s highest civilian honours, conferred annually on the eve of Republic Day.
- Recognize exceptional service in fields such as art, literature, science, medicine, public affairs, social work, and sports.
- Symbolize India’s commitment to celebrating excellence and contributions that shape society.
