IndianGaurav

Padma Awards 2026

Recipients announced for 2026 that we have profiled so far (5 Padma Vibhushan, 11 Padma Bhushan, 109 Padma Shri). The official list is published by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Showing 1–24 of 125 heroes

Dharmendra on a television set

Dharmendra

The Hindi film star of Sholay who acted in more than 300 films and served as an MP, honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Maharashtra
Portrait of K. T. Thomas

K. T. Thomas

A former Supreme Court judge known for his work on criminal law and police reform, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Kerala
NR

N. Rajam

The violinist known as the "singing violin" for playing Hindustani music in the vocal style, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Uttar Pradesh
PN

P. Narayanan

A Kerala journalist and RSS worker who helped build the Malayalam daily Janmabhumi from 1975, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Kerala
VS

V. S. Achuthanandan

A founding member of the CPI(M) who rose from coir worker to Chief Minister of Kerala (2006–2011), honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Kerala
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to Alka Yagnik at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Alka Yagnik

One of Hindi cinema's best-loved playback singers, with a career of over four decades and two National Film Awards, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Maharashtra
BS

Bhagat Singh Koshyari

A former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Governor of Maharashtra who began as a teacher in the hills, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Uttarakhand
KR

Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy

A Chennai gastroenterologist who built the department at Stanley Medical College, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Tamil Nadu
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to Mammootty at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Mammootty

The Malayalam film star with over 400 films, three National Awards and ten Kerala State awards for best actor, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Kerala
PP

Piyush Pandey

The adman who led Ogilvy India and created campaigns such as Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2016
  • Padma Bhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Maharashtra
SK

S. K. M. Maeilanandhan

An Erode businessman who has led a consumer protection centre for 33 years and runs yoga education, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Tamil Nadu
Portrait of Shatavadhani R. Ganesh

Shatavadhani R. Ganesh

A Kannada scholar who revived the art of avadhana, with over 1,300 performances and 70 books, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Karnataka
Portrait of Shibu Soren

Shibu Soren

Founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and three-time Chief Minister of Jharkhand, honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Jharkhand
Portrait of Uday Kotak

Uday Kotak

The founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, the first finance company in India to win a banking licence, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Maharashtra
Portrait of Vellappally Natesan

Vellappally Natesan

The general secretary of the SNDP Yogam since 1996, under whom its branches and schools in Kerala have grown, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Kerala
VK

Vijay Kumar Malhotra

A Delhi politician, Hindi professor and long-time head of the Archery Association of India, honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Delhi
AE

A. E. Muthunayagam

The founding director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Centre, later Secretary for Ocean Development, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Kerala
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri to Anil Kumar Rastogi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Anil Kumar Rastogi

A Lucknow biochemist who spent four decades at CDRI while acting in 100 plays and 70 films, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Uttar Pradesh
AG

Anke Gowda M.

A retired sugar-factory worker from Mandya who spent his earnings on more than 20 lakh books for a free public library, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Karnataka
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri to Armida Fernandez at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Armida Fernandez

A Mumbai neonatologist who started India's first human milk bank and founded the health NGO SNEHA, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Maharashtra
AV

Arvind Vaidya

A Gujarati stage veteran who has acted in or directed more than 300 plays and is known on TV as Bapuji in Anupamaa, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Gujarat
AK

Ashok Khade

A Mazagon Dock engineer turned founder of DAS Offshore, which has built more than 270 offshore projects for ONGC, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Maharashtra
AK

Ashok Kumar Singh

The plant breeder behind Basmati rice varieties now grown on over 90% of India's Basmati area, a former IARI director, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Uttar Pradesh
AK

Asok Kumar Haldar

A former railway mail guard from Malda who has written 13 books and about 3,000 newspaper articles on social justice, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • West Bengal