Padma Awards 2026: Top Civilian Honours Announced Across Literature and Education
The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially unveiled the Padma Awards for 2026, marking the 131 recipients who will receive India’s most prestigious civilian honours. These awards are traditionally announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day, and this year’s list includes a diverse group of achievers from various fields across the country.
A Mix of Prestigious Honours
President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval to a total of 131 Padma Awards for this year. This number includes two duo cases, which are counted as single awards each. The breakdown of the honours is as follows:
- 5 recipients for the Padma Vibhushan
- 13 recipients for the Padma Bhushan
- 113 recipients for the Padma Shri
Among the awardees, there are 19 women who have been recognised for their contributions. The list also features 6 individuals from categories including foreign nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). Additionally, 16 of these awards have been conferred posthumously, honouring individuals who have passed away.
Key Recognitions in Science and Education
In the field of science and engineering, V. Kamakoti, the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, has been honoured with the Padma Shri. His leadership and contributions to the institute and the broader scientific community have been widely acknowledged.
In the domain of literature and education, Mamidala Jagdish Kumar, the former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has also received the Padma Shri. His work in shaping higher education policies and his academic contributions have earned him this distinguished recognition.
Understanding the Padma Award Categories
The Padma Awards are given in three distinct categories, each recognising a different level of service to the nation:
- Padma Vibhushan: Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service
- Padma Bhushan: Awarded for distinguished service of a high order
- Padma Shri: Awarded for distinguished service in any field
These honours span a wide range of disciplines, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil services. The formal presentation ceremony for the Padma Awards is typically held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually during the months of March or April.
Honourees in Literature and Education
This year, 18 individuals have been recognised specifically in the literature and education category. The complete list of awardees in this category is as follows:
Padma Vibhushan 2026
- P. Narayanan – Kerala
Padma Shri 2026
- Ashok Kumar Haldar – West Bengal
- Charan Hembram – Odisha
- Gambhir Singh Yonzone – West Bengal
- Kailash Chandra Pant – Madhya Pradesh
- Lyudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova – Russia
- Mahendra Kumar Mishra – Odisha
- Mahendra Nath Rai – West Bengal
- Mamidala Jagdish Kumar – Delhi
- Mangala Kapoor – Uttar Pradesh
- Naresh Chandra Dev Varma – Tripura
- Prabhakar Basavaprabhu Kore – Karnataka
- Rabilal Tudu – West Bengal
- Ratilal Borisagar – Gujarat
- Shafi Shauq – Jammu & Kashmir
- Shashi Shekhar Vempati – Karnataka
- Shivashankari – Tamil Nadu
- Vempati Kutumba Sastry – Andhra Pradesh
The announcement of these awards continues the tradition of recognising outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, inspiring generations and enriching the cultural and intellectual fabric of the nation.
