Padma Awards 2026: Who all could feature in this year’s honours list

The Padma Awards, one of India’s most prestigious civilian honours, are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards recognise distinguished and exceptional service across diverse fields including art, literature, science, medicine, social work, public affairs, sports and public service.

Padma Awards categories and purpose

The awards are conferred in three categories:

• Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service
• Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a higher order
• Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field

An essential criterion is the presence of a strong element of public service in the recipient’s work. The awards do not carry any monetary grant and are not to be used as titles.

Eligibility and nomination process

Any individual, regardless of profession or background, is eligible for the Padma Awards. Serving government employees are generally not eligible, except for doctors and scientists. The nomination process is open to the public, including self-nominations.

For Padma Awards 2026, nominations were invited from 15 March to 31 July 2025, later extended until 15 August 2025, as announced by the Padma Awards portal. All nominations are reviewed by the Padma Awards Committee, constituted annually by the Prime Minister, before final approval by the Prime Minister and the President of India.

The total number of awards in a year, excluding posthumous cases and foreign recipients, is capped at 120.

Speculation around unsung heroes

As part of the 2026 honours, sources indicated that around 45 individuals were recognised under the Padma Shri category for their contributions as unsung heroes. Among those named are Anke Gowda from Karnataka, Armida Fernandes from Maharashtra, Bhagwadas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Brij Lal Bhat from Jammu and Kashmir, Budri Thati from Chhattisgarh, Charan Hembram from Odisha, Chiranji Lal Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, and Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya from Gujarat, among others. These recipients are known for grassroots-level work and long-standing service that has largely remained outside the public spotlight.

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Bharat Ratna expectations

The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was not conferred in the previous year. As a result, there is anticipation over whether it may be awarded in 2026. Media reports and public discourse have speculated about the possibility of multiple recipients, including historical figures linked to India’s freedom movement and cultural legacy.

Among the names discussed in speculation is Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, author of Vande Mataram, a song closely associated with the freedom struggle. There has also been discussion about the possibility of a recipient from Tamil Nadu, a state that has previously produced several Bharat Ratna awardees. However, no official announcement has been made, and all such claims remain unverified until the government’s formal declaration.

Announcement and ceremony

The names of Padma Award recipients are announced on the eve of Republic Day and later formally conferred by the President of India, usually in March or April. Awardees receive a Sanad (certificate) and a medallion, with their names published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.

All confirmed details will only be known once the official list is released by the Government of India.