President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards for 2026, including 16 posthumous honours and two duo cases counted as single awards. The list spans five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri recipients across art, public affairs, medicine, literature, sports and social work …reports Asian Lite News
President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards for 2026, including two duo cases counted as single awards, with Bollywood actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan named for Padma Vibhushan posthumously. The awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, recognise distinguished service across a wide range of professional and public fields.
The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. The Padma Vibhushan category, which represents the highest level of recognition under the scheme, includes Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) for Art from Maharashtra; former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas for Public Affairs from Kerala; renowned violinist N Rajam for Art from Uttar Pradesh; senior Malayalam journalist P Narayanan for Literature and Education from Kerala; and veteran left leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Achuthanandan (posthumous) for Public Affairs.
The Padma Bhushan recipients include a mix of figures from the arts, politics, medicine and business. Among them are playback singer Alka Yagnik (Art, Maharashtra), Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Public Affairs, Uttarakhand), gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy (Medicine, Tamil Nadu), actor Mammootty (Art, Kerala), Dr Nori Dattatreyaudu (Medicine, United States of America), advertising professional Piyush Pandey (posthumous) (Art, Maharashtra), S K M Maeilananndhan (Social Work, Tamil Nadu), Shatavadhani R Ganesh (Art, Karnataka), former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren (posthumous) (Public Affairs, Jharkhand), banker and industrialist Uday Kotak (Trade and Industry, Maharashtra), veteran politician V K Malhotra (posthumous) (Public Affairs, Delhi), social and political leader Vellappally Natesan (Public Affairs, Kerala), and former tennis player Vijay Amritraj (Sports, United States of America).
According to the official list, 19 of the awardees are women, while six fall under the categories of foreign nationals, Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizens of India. Sixteen of the total awards have been announced posthumously, reflecting contributions made by individuals who died in recent years.
The Padma awards are conferred in three categories. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. The honours are given across disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
The Padma awards are announced annually on Republic Day and are presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March and April each year. The selection process involves nominations from state and central governments, as well as from members of the public, followed by scrutiny and approval at multiple levels before final confirmation by the President.
The inclusion of Dharmendra Singh Deol, widely known for his long and influential career in Hindi cinema, marks one of the most high-profile cultural recognitions in the 2026 list. His posthumous award acknowledges decades of contribution to Indian film and popular culture. Achuthanandan’s inclusion highlights his role in Kerala politics and public life, where he was associated with left-wing movements and governance over several decades.
In the field of law and public affairs, the award to former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas recognises his judicial service and role in legal reform. In music, violinist N Rajam is noted for her contribution to Indian classical music, particularly in the Carnatic tradition. Journalism is represented at the highest level through the award to P Narayanan, whose work in Malayalam media spans several decades.
The Padma Bhushan list reflects a similar diversity. Alka Yagnik’s inclusion acknowledges her impact on Indian film music, while Mammootty’s award recognises a long and critically acclaimed acting career in Malayalam cinema and beyond. Uday Kotak’s honour reflects contributions in banking and financial services, while Vijay Amritraj’s recognition relates to his sporting achievements and subsequent roles in sports administration and commentary.
