Padma Awards 2026: Dharmendra gets Padma Vibhushan; Shibu Soren, Mammootty honoured with Padma Bhushan

The Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian awards of India, are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day, 25 January, to recognise exceptional service in various categories.

The awards are conferred in three categories such as Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a higher order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service across various fields.

Highlights of Padma Award winners —

8:40 pm - People should work selflessly for society: Arunachal's Techi Gubin on getting Padma Shri

Arunachal Vikas Parishad president Techi Gubin, who was named for the Padma Shri award on Sunday in recognition of his distinguished contribution to social service, said people should work selflessly for the betterment of society.

Gubin is among 54 recipients named for Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.

8: 10 pm - Ad icon Piyush Pandey honoured with Padma Bhushan posthumously

Adman Piyush Pandey, who passed away last year, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously, one of India's highest civilian awards, in recognition of his decades-long contribution to the Indian advertising industry of India.

7:30 pm - Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla awarded Ashoka Chakra

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been awarded the Ashok Chakra for his contribution to the space program Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

7:20 pm - Mammootty, Alka Yagnik honoured with Padma Bhushan

Veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty and renowned Bollywood singer Alka Yagnik will be conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian award, as the Centre on Sunday announced the names of the recipients of the coveted Padma Awards 2026 on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.

The awards will be presented later this year by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

6:52 pm - Padma Bhushan 2026 Awardees: Full list

Ms. Alka Yagnik — Art (Maharashtra)

Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari — Public Affairs (Uttarakhand)

Shri Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy — Medicine (Tamil Nadu)

Shri Mammootty — Art (Kerala)

Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu — Medicine (United States of America)

Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) — Art (Maharashtra)

Shri S K M Maeilanandhan — Social Work (Tamil Nadu)

Shri Shatavadhani R Ganesh — Art (Karnataka)

Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous) — Public Affairs (Jharkhand)

Shri Uday Kotak — Trade & Industry (Maharashtra)

Shri V K Malhotra (Posthumous) — Public Affairs (Delhi)

Shri Vellappally Natesan — Public Affairs (Kerala)

Shri Vijay Amritraj — Sports (United States of America)

6:32 pm - President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards — 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.

6:24 pm - Singer Alka Yagnik, Former Uttarakhand CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Actor Mammootty to be conferred with Padma Bhushan.

Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy, Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, Piyush Pandey (Posthumous), S K M Maeilanandhan, Shatavadhani R Ganesh, Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren (Posthumous), Uday Kotak, VK Malhotra (Posthumous), Vellappally Natesan, Vijay Amritraj to be conferred with Padma Bhushan.

6:09 pm - Late actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) recognised with Padma Vibhushan in the field of Art.

5:25 pm - India to display military might, growth story at Republic Day parade

India will display its development journey, cultural diversity and military might, including newly-raised units and mock-ups of major weapon systems deployed during Operation Sindoor, at the 77th Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

4:40 pm - 45 citizens awarded Padma Shri in 'unsung heroes' category on Republic Day

A former bus conductor who set up the world's largest free-access library, a paediatrician who formed Asia's first human milk bank, and a 90-year old rare musical instrument player were among 45 individuals from across India chosen for the Padma Shri award in the ‘unsung heroes’ category on the occasion of Republic Day.

4:15 pm - List of unsung heroes who win Padma awards this year:

1. Anke Gowda

2. Armida Fernandez

3. Bhagwandas Raikwar

4. Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda

5. Brij Lal Bhat

6. Budhri Tati

7. Charan Hembram

8. Chiranji Lal Yadav

9. Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya

10. Gafruddin Mewati Jogi

11. Hally War

12. Inderjit Singh Sidhu

13. K Pajanivel

14. Kailash Chandra Pant

15. Khem Raj Sundriyal

16. Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G

17. Kumarasamy Thangaraj

18. Mahendra Kumar Mishra

19. Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai

20. Mohan Nagar

21. Naresh Chandra Dev Varma

22. Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala

23. Nuruddin Ahmed

24. Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan

25. Padma Gurmet

26. Pokhila Lekthepi

27. Punniamurthy Natesan

28. R Krishnan

29. Raghupat Singh

30. Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar

31. Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar

32. Rama Reddy Mamidi

33. Ramchandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole

34. S G Susheelamma

35. Sangyusang S Pongener

36. Shafi Shauq

37. Shrirang Devaba Lad

38. Shyam Sundar

39. Simanchal Patro

40. Suresh Hanagavadi

41. Taga Ram Bheel

42. Techi Gubin

43. Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam

44. Vishwa Bandhu

45. Yumnam Jatra Singh

3:55 pm - Speaking on a diverse set of awardees, the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “These are people who have dedicated entire lifetimes in service of Divyangjan, Women, Children, Dalits and Tribals - working in promoting Healthcare, Education, Livelihood, Sanitation, Sustainability, etc.”

It added, “From doctors working in local health challenges like Haemophilia to a neonatologist who set up India’s first human milk-bank … from preserving India’s indigenous heritage and promoting national integration in border States to promoting tribal languages and indigenous martial arts … from preserving dying arts and weaves to safeguarding the nation’s ecological wealth and championing swachta - this set of awardees truly epitomises everyday Indians silently going about their everyday lives, in service of Bharat Mata.”

3:44 pm - Lauding this year's awardees, the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “Continuing with the principle of celebrating Ordinary Indians making Extraordinary Contributions, this year’s Padma Awards recognise a wide spectrum of unsung heroes from across the length and breadth of India.

The ministry added, "Each has overcome tremendous personal hardships and tragedies to not just excel in their chosen mediums, but go further on to serve society at large. These include individuals from marginalised Backwards and Dalit communities, primitive Tribes and hailing from remote and difficult terrains.”

3:34 pm - Dr Shyam Sundar from Uttar Pradesh will reportedly be conferred the Padma Shri 2026 in the field of Medicine, ANI reported.

3:24 pm - Mohan Nagar from Madhya Pradesh will be conferred the Padma Shri 2026 for his work in environmental conservation, ANI reported.

3:20 pm - Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai from Gujarat will be honoured with the Padma Shri 2026 in the field of Art, ANI reported.

3:12 pm - Anke Gowda from Karnataka and Armida Fernandes from Maharashtra were awarded Padma Shri in the unsung heroes category, PTI reported. Gowde is being recognised in the field of literature and education.

3:10 pm - Bhagwadas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Brij Lal Bhat from Jammu and Kashmir, were awarded Padma Shri in the unsung heroes category, according to PTI.

3:08 pm - Budri Thati from Chhattisgarh and Charan Hembram from Odisha are among the Padma Shri awardees recognised in the unsung heroes category, the news portal reported.

2:55 pm - Chiranji Lal Yadav from Uttar Pradesh and Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya from Gujarat are among the Padma Shri awardees in the unsung heroes category, PTI reported, citing people aware of the development.