Padma Awards 2026 announced; Dharmendra, Mammootty, Alka Yagnik among top honourees
Veteran actor Dharmendra has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan (posthumous) for his exceptional contribution to the arts. Celebrated actor Mammootty and legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik feature among the prominent recipients of the Padma Bhushan, recognising their distinguished service of a high order.
New Delhi: The Government of India on Sunday announced the Padma Awards 2026, conferring the country’s highest civilian honours on 131 distinguished individuals across three categories—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
Veteran actor Dharmendra has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan (posthumous) for his exceptional contribution to the arts. Celebrated actor Mammootty and legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik feature among the prominent recipients of the Padma Bhushan, recognising their distinguished service of a high order.
Industrialist Uday Kotak has been conferred the Padma Bhushan in the field of trade and industry, acknowledging his contribution to India’s financial sector and institution-building.
Padma Vibhushan recipients
A total of five Padma Vibhushan awards have been approved this year. Besides Dharmendra, the honourees include public affairs leaders KT Thomas and VS Achuthanandan (posthumous), artist N. Rajam, and educationist P. Narayanan, reflecting a wide spectrum of national contribution.
Padma Bhushan highlights
Thirteen Padma Bhushan awards have been announced. Along with Mammootty, Alka Yagnik and Uday Kotak, the list includes former Uttarakhand governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, chess legend Vijay Amritraj (sports), medical professionals Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy and Dr Nori Dattatreyaudu, and several others from public affairs, social work and the arts.
Broad-based Padma Shri recognition
The Padma Shri list comprises 113 awardees, honouring grassroots contributors and professionals from fields such as science and engineering, medicine, social work, literature and education, sports, agriculture, archaeology, animal husbandry and radio broadcasting. The list includes artists, doctors, social workers, farmers, scholars and sportspersons from across the country and abroad.
According to official data, 19 of the awardees are women, while six are from the foreigner/NRI/PIO/OCI category. Sixteen awards are posthumous, underscoring recognition of lifelong contributions.
About the Padma Awards
Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are announced annually on the occasion of Republic Day. The awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually in March or April.
The honours recognise achievements in diverse disciplines, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
Click to see the full list of Padma Awards 2026
