Ahead of Republic Day 2026, the Union government has cleared the names of 131 individuals for the prestigious Padma Awards, one of India’s highest civilian recognitions. The honours include five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients across diverse sectors.

This year’s list reflects wide representation, with 19 women awardees, six foreign nationals or overseas Indians, and 16 posthumous recognitions. The awards cover contributions in art, sports, medicine, literature, science, social service, public affairs, trade, and education.

Among those selected for the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, are legendary actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous), former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan (posthumous), eminent violinist N Rajam, former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas, and author P Narayanan. This category is reserved for individuals who have rendered “exceptional and distinguished service”.

The Padma Bhushan list features prominent names such as singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, banker Uday Kotak, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, advertising professional Piyush Pandey (posthumous), and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The honour recognises “distinguished service of a high order”.

At the grassroots level, the Padma Shri category includes achievers from across the country. Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, and wrestler Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar are among the sporting personalities selected this year.

The Padma Awards are announced annually on Republic Day and will be formally presented by the President of India at ceremonial events at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually held in March or April.

Officials said the 2026 list highlights both national icons and unsung contributors, reinforcing the government’s focus on recognising excellence across all sections of society.