Padma Awards 2026 announced with 131 recipients across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri categories.

Key facts

• The Government of India announced 131 Padma Awards for 2026, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
• Veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandhan were awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
• Cricketer Rohit Sharma, actor R Madhavan, and Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty featured among prominent awardees across Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan categories.
• Maharashtra topped the list with 15 awardees, followed by Tamil Nadu (13), Uttar Pradesh (11), West Bengal (11) and Kerala (8).
• Adman Piyush Pandey received the Padma Bhushan posthumously for contributions to the Indian advertising industry.
• Techi Gubin, President of Arunachal Vikas Parishad, was named for the Padma Shri in social service.
• 45 awardees were recognised as ‘unsung heroes’ under the Padma Shri category, including former bus conductor Anke Gowda and paediatrician Armida Fernandez.
• The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India and will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March–April.