K Vijay Kumar Conferred Padma Shri Award

Key facts

• Former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer K Vijay Kumar was conferred with the Padma Shri award in January 2026.
• K Vijay Kumar is best known for leading Operation Cocoon in 2004, which resulted in the death of forest brigand Veerappan in Papparapatti, Dharmapuri district.
• He served as the Director-General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for two years starting from 2010.
• The Tamil Nadu-cadre officer has served as an advisor to the Union Home Ministry on countering Left-wing extremism and as an advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor.
• Violinist N Rajam was among the five individuals conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award in 2026.
• Other Padma Shri recipients from Tamil Nadu include Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) Director V Kamakoti, tennis player Vijay Amritraj, writer Sivasankari, and singers Gayatri and Ranjani Balasubramanian.
• Padma Shri awardees from Karnataka include Anke Gowda, S G Susheelamma, and Dr Suresh Hanagavadi.