The Padma Awards 2026 winner list recognise 45 persons under the Padma Shri Unsung Heroes category for their contributions across fields such as social service, education, culture, and public welfare.
India
-Madhuri Adnal
The
Union
government
has
released
the
Padma
awards
list
for
2026,
announcing
the
names
on
the
eve
of
Republic
Day.
The
honours
recognise
individuals
from
across
India
for
distinguished
service
in
diverse
fields.
Among
the
Padma
awardees
this
year
are
75-year-old
Anke
Gowda
and
retired
Deputy
Inspector
General
of
Police
Inderjit
Singh
Sidhu.
The
Padma
awards
—
Padma
Vibhushan,
Padma
Bhushan
and
Padma
Shri
—
are
among
India’s
highest
civilian
honours.
The
list
is
traditionally
published
on
25
January,
ahead
of
Republic
Day
celebrations.
The
formal
investiture
ceremony
is
held
later
at
Rashtrapati
Bhavan,
usually
during
March
or
April
each
year.
The
Indian
government
has
announced
the
2026
Padma
Awards
on
the
eve
of
Republic
Day,
recognizing
individuals
for
distinguished
service
in
fields
like
social
work
and
the
arts;
45
people
including
Anke
Gowda
and
Inderjit
Singh
Sidhu
have
been
selected.
Padma
awards
2026:
full
list
of
Padma
awardees
The
government
has
named
45
Padma
awardees
for
Republic
Day
2026,
covering
social
work,
public
service,
arts,
literature
and
several
other
areas.
The
list
includes
both
well-known
personalities
and
lesser-known
contributors
whose
work
spans
decades
and
regions,
reflecting
recognition
of
long-term
commitment
rather
than
public
visibility
alone.
| No. |
Padma awardees 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Anke Gowda |
| 2 |
Armida Fernandez |
| 3 |
Bhagwandas Raikwar |
| 4 |
Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda |
| 5 |
Brij Lal Bhat |
| 6 |
Budhri Tati |
| 7 |
Charan Hembram |
| 8 |
Chiranji Lal Yadav |
| 9 |
Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya |
| 10 |
Gafruddin Mewati Jogi |
| 11 |
Hally War |
| 12 |
Inderjit Singh Sidhu |
| 13 |
K Pajanivel |
| 14 |
Kailash Chandra Pant |
| 15 |
Khem Raj Sundriyal |
| 16 |
Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G |
| 17 |
Kumarasamy Thangaraj |
| 18 |
Mahendra Kumar Mishra |
| 19 |
Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai |
| 20 |
Mohan Nagar |
| 21 |
Naresh Chandra Dev Varma |
| 22 |
Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala |
| 23 |
Nuruddin Ahmed |
| 24 |
Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan |
| 25 |
Padma Gurmet |
| 26 |
Pokhila Lekthepi |
| 27 |
Punniamurthy Natesan |
| 28 |
R Krishnan |
| 29 |
Raghupat Singh |
| 30 |
Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar |
| 31 |
Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar |
| 32 |
Rama Reddy Mamidi |
| 33 |
Ramchandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole |
| 34 |
S G Susheelamma |
| 35 |
Sangyusang S Pongener |
| 36 |
Shafi Shauq |
| 37 |
Shrirang Devaba Lad |
| 38 |
Shyam Sundar |
| 39 |
Simanchal Patro |
| 40 |
Suresh Hanagavadi |
| 41 |
Taga Ram Bheel |
| 42 |
Techi Gubin |
| 43 |
Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam |
| 44 |
Vishwa Bandhu |
| 45 |
Yumnam Jatra Singh |
Padma
awards
nominations
process
and
focus
on
inclusivity
The
Padma
Awards
are
among
India’s
most
prestigious
civilian
honours,
recognising
outstanding
contributions
across
fields
such
as
social
service,
art,
culture,
education,
public
affairs,
and
more.
Awardees
hail
from
diverse
backgrounds
and
regions,
showcasing
the
nation’s
rich
cultural
and
social
tapestry.
These
honours
celebrate
individuals
who
have
devoted
their
lives
to
serving
society
and
excelling
in
their
fields,
whether
at
the
grassroots
level
or
on
a
national
stage.
The
nomination
window
for
the
2026
Padma
awards
opened
on
15
March
last
year
and
closed
on
31
July.
Recommendations
were
accepted
only
through
the
Rashtriya
Puraskar
Portal,
which
is
designed
as
a
transparent
digital
system
that
allows
citizens,
institutions
and
state
bodies
to
participate
directly
in
suggesting
names.
Officials
state
that
the
Padma
awards
selection
process
places
strong
emphasis
on
wider
representation.
The
government
has
stressed
nominations
from
marginalised
groups,
including
women,
persons
with
disabilities,
members
of
scheduled
castes
and
scheduled
tribes,
and
people
involved
in
selfless
work
at
the
grassroots,
so
that
contributions
outside
major
urban
centres
are
also
formally
recognised.
While
the
full
Padma
awards
list
emerges
every
year
on
the
eve
of
Republic
Day,
the
awards
themselves
are
presented
later
at
Rashtrapati
Bhavan
in
a
formal
ceremony.
Awardees
attend
the
function
in
March
or
April,
when
the
President
of
India
confers
the
honours
in
person
during
separate
investiture
sessions.
The
2026
Padma
awards
list
shows
the
government’s
aim
of
honouring
both
prominent
figures
and
unsung
contributors.
With
names
drawn
from
varied
regions,
professions
and
communities,
the
announcement
ahead
of
Republic
Day
2026
reflects
continued
use
of
the
Rashtriya
Puraskar
Portal
and
an
ongoing
focus
on
inclusive
recognition
in
national
civilian
honours.
