Padma Awards 2026: Categories, Recipients, and Selection Process

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The President of India handed out the second group of 65 Padma Awards, 2026 during a formal investiture event at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
These prestigious civilian medals celebrate extraordinary contributions across various walks of life like arts, public service, science, and social work.

The Padma Awards rank among the highest civilian honors in India and are declared every year right before Republic Day.
They acknowledge remarkable achievements and service in fields such as literature, education, medicine, civil service, sports, and trade.
The Padma Vibhushan stands as the second-highest civilian award after the Bharat Ratna, given for exceptional and distinguished service.
The Padma Bhushan recognizes distinguished service of a high order.
The Padma Shri honors distinguished service in any field of human endeavor.

The government established these awards in 1954 alongside the Bharat Ratna.
Officials originally named them Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg.
A presidential notification in January 1955 renamed these tiers to Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
The government announced these awards every year without a break, except for temporary pauses in 1978, 1979, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.

Citizens can apply themselves or recommend others, while state governments, union territories, and central ministries also submit names between May and September.
The Padma Awards Committee, set up every year by the Prime Minister, reviews all incoming nominations.
The committee includes the Cabinet Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President, and several eminent civil society members.
The committee sends its final screened list to the Prime Minister and the President of India for final approval.

According to Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India, recipients cannot use these awards as titles or prefixes on letterheads and books.
Winners receive a Sanad signed by the President and a bronze medallion replica without any direct cash grants or travel perks.
The total number of awards given in a single year cannot cross a legal cap of 120 awards, excluding posthumous awards and NRIs.
A person must wait at least five years after receiving a lower award before getting an upgrade to a higher tier.
The government avoids posthumous awards unless special circumstances justify honoring someone who passed away shortly before the announcement.

Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas and journalist P. Narayanan received the Padma Vibhushan for public affairs and literature.
Prominent Padma Bhushan recipients include oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori, industrialist S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, and social worker Vellappally Natesan.
Late Jharkhand leader Shibu Soren received a posthumous Padma Bhushan.
Tennis star Vijay Amritraj, actor Mammootty, and singer Alka Yagnik also received the Padma Bhushan.
Aerospace scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu received the Padma Shri for his work on the Akash missile system during Operation Sindoor.
Social worker Budhri Tati won the Padma Shri for promoting education in the Naxal-affected Bastar region.
Folk artist Guru Sangyusang Pongener and Georgian wrestling coach Vladimir Mestvirishvili also earned the Padma Shri.
Popular sports and entertainment figures like cricketer Rohit Sharma, hockey player Savita Punia, and actor R. Madhavan received the Padma Shri.