Anke Gowda And 44 Others Named As Padma Awardees 2026

Key facts

• A total of 45 distinguished individuals have been selected for the Padma Awards 2026, comprising the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, announced one day ahead of Republic Day.
• The President of India will personally confer the awards upon the recipients at a ceremonial function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Karnataka’s Anke Gowda, a 75-year-old former bus conductor, was recognised for establishing Pustak Mane, a library housing over two million books and rare manuscripts in 20 languages.
• Mumbai-based paediatrician Armida Fernandes was selected for her contribution to improving infant survival through the initiation of Asia’s first human milk bank.
• The awardees include 90-year-old Tarpa player Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda from Maharashtra, Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir social worker Brij Lal Bhatt.
• The list features Budri Thati for establishing schools in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Santhali author Charan Hembrom, brass engraving expert Chiranji Lal Yadav, and Hyderabad-based geneticist Kumaraswamy Thangaraj.
• Other recipients include Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya, Gaffaruddin Mewati Jogi, Haily War, Inderjit Singh Sidhu, K Pazhanivel, Kailash Chandra Pant, Khem Raj Sundriyal, Kollakkayli Devaki Amma ji, Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Meer Hajibhai Kasambhai, and Mohan Nagar.
• The awardees also include Naresh Chandra Dev Verma, Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala, Nuruddin Ahmed, Othuvar Tiruthani Swaminathan, Padma Gurmeet, Pokhila Lekthepi, Punniyamurthy Natesan, R Krishnan, Raghupat Singh, and Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar.
• The final set of awardees consists of 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, and Yumnaam Jatra Singh.