As per the official press note issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the President of India has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards this year, comprising 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honours.
Among the prominent names from the world of cinema and arts, actor Mammootty has been awarded the Padma Bhushan in the Art category. The Padma Shri list also includes Madhavan Ranganathan, recognised for his contribution to the arts. The awards were announced on the occasion of Republic Day and will be formally presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually held in March or April.
According to the government release, the 2026 Padma list includes 19 women awardees, 6 foreign nationals or persons of Indian origin, and 16 posthumous honours. Two awards have been given as duo cases, which are counted as a single award each. The recipients span multiple states and countries, reflecting a broad geographical and professional spread.
Padma Vibhushan 2026
The Padma Vibhushan, awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, has been conferred on five individuals this year. These include late actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) in the Art category, former Supreme Court Justice K T Thomas for public affairs, violinist N Rajam for her work in classical music, scholar P Narayanan in literature and education, and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandhan (posthumous) for public affairs.
Padma Bhushan 2026
The Padma Bhushan list features 13 awardees across diverse sectors. Along with Mammootty, the recipients include singer Alka Yagnik, former Uttarakhand Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, industrialist Uday Kotak, advertising professional Piyush Pandey (posthumous), social worker S K M Maelanandhan, and sports icon Vijay Amritraj. Several public figures and medical professionals from India and abroad also feature in this category.
Padma Shri 2026
The largest share of awards has been announced under the Padma Shri category, with 113 recipients. The list includes individuals recognised for contributions in classical arts, folk traditions, sports, medicine, civil services, agriculture, archaeology, radio broadcasting, and social work. Notable awardees include sportspersons Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar, Rohit Sharma, and Savita Punia, alongside several artists, educators, scientists, and grassroots social workers from across the country.
The Padma Shri list also reflects strong representation from states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as international recipients from the United States, Germany, Russia, and Georgia.
With the Padma Awards 2026 now announced, attention will turn to the official investiture ceremonies later this year, where the awardees will receive their honours in person. The full list underscores the continued focus on recognising service and achievement across both nationally visible and lesser-known fields.