The eve of Republic Day brings a wave of pride across the nation as the Government of India announces the prestigious Padma Awards. This year is no exception. For aspirants preparing for competitive exams and citizens eager to know who has been honored, accessing the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download is the first priority.
In this detailed guide, we provide a complete breakdown of the awardees, categorized tables for quick reading, and a direct link to the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download.
Padma Awards 2026 Key Highlights & Statistics
These statistics are crucial for anyone looking for the Padma Awards 2026 list for competitive exams PDF. The President of India has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards for the year 2026. The awards are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
Here is the snapshot of the 2026 Awards:
- Total Awards: 131
- Padma Vibhushan: 5
- Padma Bhushan: 13
- Padma Shri: 113
- Women Awardees: 19
- Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI: 6
- Posthumous Awardees: 16
- Duo Cases: 2 (Counted as one award)
The awards are announced annually on Republic Day and are conferred by the President at ceremonial functions at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April.
Also Visit : RSMSSB Lab Assistant Recruitment 2026
Padma Vibhushan 2026 Winners List (Complete)
The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for “exceptional and distinguished service”. It is the second-highest civilian award in India. This year, 5 eminent personalities have been selected. A significant highlight is the Dharmendra Singh Deol Padma Vibhushan posthumous award, honoring the cinematic legend.
| S.No | Name | Field | State/Country |
| 1 | Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 2 | Shri KT Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 3 | Ms. N Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | Shri P Narayanan | Literature & Education | Kerala |
| 5 | Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
Note: The inclusion of V S Achuthanandhan and Dharmendra Singh Deol marks a significant moment in recognizing posthumous contributions in Public Affairs and Art respectively.
Padma Bhushan Award List PDF 2026
The Padma Bhushan award list recognizes “distinguished service of high order”. This year, 13 individuals have been honored.
The list includes diverse fields, from Alka Yagnik Padma Bhushan 2026 in Art to Uday Kotak Padma Bhushan trade and industry recognition.
Padma Bhushan 2026 Art and Cinema Winners & Others
| S.No | Name | Field | State/Country |
| 6 | Ms. Alka Yagnik | Art | Maharashtra |
| 7 | Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari | Public Affairs | Uttarakhand |
| 8 | Shri Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 9 | Shri Mammootty | Art | Kerala |
| 10 | Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu | Medicine | USA |
| 11 | Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 12 | Shri SKM Maeilanandhan | Social Work | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | Shri Shatavadhani R Ganesh | Art | Karnataka |
| 14 | Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Jharkhand |
| 15 | Shri Uday Kotak | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| 16 | Shri V K Malhotra (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Delhi |
| 17 | Shri Vellappally Natesan | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 18 | Shri Vijay Amritraj | Sports | USA |
Many fans were discussing Mithun Chakraborty vs Mammootty Padma Awards 2026, and the official list confirms that the Malayalam megastar Mammootty has been conferred the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Art.
Padma Shri 2026 Winners List: Sports, Art, and More
The Padma Shri is awarded for “distinguished service in any field”. With 113 awardees, this is the largest category. If you are looking for the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download, this section often contains the most questions for competitive exams.
Also Visit : Indian Navy SSC Officer Recruitment 2026 Apply Online
Padma Shri 2026 Sports Category Winners
Sports enthusiasts are celebrating as the “Hitman” of Indian cricket and the captain of the women’s team are honored.
| Name | Field | State |
| Shri Baldev Singh | Sports | Punjab |
| Shri Bhagwandas Raikwar | Sports | Madhya Pradesh |
| Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar | Sports | Punjab |
| Shri K Pajanivel | Sports | Puducherry |
| Shri Praveen Kumar | Sports | Uttar Pradesh |
| Shri Rohit Sharma | Sports | Maharashtra |
| Ms. Savita Punia | Sports | Haryana |
| Shri Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Posthumous) | Sports | Georgia |
| Shri Vijay Amritraj (Padma Bhushan) | Sports | USA |
Note: While Rohit Sharma Padma Shri 2026 award details are highly searched, Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar Padma Shri 2026 sports is equally significant for women’s cricket.
Notable Padma Shri Winners in Art
The list features incredible diversity, from veteran actors to classical artists.
- Shri Satish Shah (Posthumous): The beloved actor has been honored posthumously for his contribution to Art.
- Shri Anil Kumar Rastogi: Art, Uttar Pradesh.
- Ms. Deepika Reddy: Art, Telangana.
- Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee: A major name in Bengali cinema, awarded for Art.
List of 19 Women Awardees: Padma Awards 2026
Empowerment is evident in this year’s list. 19 women have been recognized. Here are some of the distinguished women from the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download:
Also Visit : MPBDC AGM & Manager Civil & Electrical Vacancy 2026 Recruitment
- Ms. N Rajam: Padma Vibhushan (Art).
- Ms. Alka Yagnik: Padma Bhushan (Art).
- Ms. Armida Fernandez: Padma Shri (Medicine).
- Ms. Deepika Reddy: Padma Shri (Art).
- Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar: Padma Shri (Sports).
- Ms. Savita Punia: Padma Shri (Sports).
- Ms. Sivasankari: Padma Shri (Literature & Education).
- Ms. S G Susheelamma: Padma Shri (Social Work).
- Ms. Pokhila Lekthepi: Padma Shri (Art).
- Ms. Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova: Padma Shri (Literature & Education – Russia).
(Refer to the full PDF for the complete list of all 19 women).
Padma Awards 2026 Posthumous Winners Full List
Honoring those who are no longer with us is a tradition of the Padma Awards. This year, there are 16 Posthumous awardees.
Padma Vibhushan:
- Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Art)
- Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Public Affairs)
Padma Bhushan:
- Shri Piyush Pandey (Art)
- Shri Shibu Soren (Public Affairs)
- Shri V K Malhotra (Public Affairs)
Padma Shri (Selected):
- Shri Bishwa Bandhu (Art)
- Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Art)
- Shri Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (Art)
- Shri Kabindra Purkayastha (Public Affairs)
- Shri Satish Shah (Art)
- Shri TT Jagannathan (Trade and Industry)
State-Wise & Foreign Winners Analysis
When analyzing the Padma Awards 2026 state wise winners list, states like Maharashtra, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh have a strong presence.
Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI Category: The global influence of Indian culture and service is recognized through 6 awardees in this category.
- Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu (USA): Padma Bhushan – Medicine.
- Shri Vijay Amritraj (USA): Padma Bhushan – Sports.
- Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch (Germany): Padma Shri – Art.
- Ms. Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova (Russia): Padma Shri – Literature and Education.
- Shri Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Georgia): Padma Shri – Sports.
- Dr. Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore (USA): Padma Shri – Literature and Education (Note: Table lists Medicine/Education context, specifically row 88 lists Medicine).
How to Download Padma Awards 2026 Official PDF
For authentic information, it is highly recommended to perform the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download directly from the official source.
Ministry of Home Affairs Padma Awards press note 2026 steps:
- Visit the official website:
padmaawards.gov.inormha.gov.in. - Look for the “Press Release” or “What’s New” section.
- Click on the link titled “Press Note regarding Padma Awards 2026”.
- The file will open in a new tab. Save the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download to your device for offline reading.
Important Direct Official Links
Difference Between Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan 2026
Many readers ask about the hierarchy. Here is the clear distinction based on the official press note:
- Padma Vibhushan: This is awarded for “exceptional and distinguished service”. It is the highest of the three. (Example: Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol).
- Padma Bhushan: This is awarded for “distinguished service of high order”. (Example: Shri Uday Kotak).
- Padma Shri: This is awarded for “distinguished service in any field”.
FAQs: Padma Awards 2026
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download.
1. Who won the Padma Shri Award in 2026 from the cricket field ?
Rohit Sharma (current captain) and Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar (women’s captain) both won the Padma Shri for Sports in 2026.
2. How many Padma Awards 2026 winners are on the list ?
The President has approved a total of 131 Padma Awards for the year 2026.
3. Which medal is awarded on 26 January ?
The Padma Awards (Vibhushan, Bhushan, Shri) are announced on the occasion of Republic Day (26th January). Note that Jeevan Raksha Padak winners list 2026 and President Police Medal List are often announced simultaneously but are separate from the Padma list.
4. Is there a PDF for the Padma Awards 2026 list ?
Yes, you can search for Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download free on the Ministry of Home Affairs website.
5. Did Mithun Chakraborty get a Padma Award in 2026 ?
According to the 2026 press note, Shri Mammootty received the Padma Bhushan. The provided list does not explicitly mention Mithun Chakraborty in the Bhushan category for this specific year’s document.
6. Who is the Foreigner from Germany in the list ?
Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch from Germany was awarded the Padma Shri in the field of Art.
7. Who received the Padma Vibhushan Posthumously in 2026 ?
Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Art) and Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Public Affairs) were awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
8. Which industrialist won the Padma Bhushan in 2026 ?
Shri Uday Kotak from Maharashtra was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the field of Trade and Industry.
9. How many women received the award this year ?
There are 19 women awardees in the Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download.
10. What is a “Duo Case” in Padma Awards ?
In a duo case, the award is counted as one. For 2026, there are 2 duo cases, including Ms. Gayatri Balasubramanian and Ms. Ranjani Balasubramanian (Art).
Author’s Suggestions
The Padma Awards 2026 continue to uphold the tradition of honoring the unsung heroes and the celebrated legends of India. Whether you are searching for पद्म पुरस्कार 2026 पीडीएफ डाउनलोड or the Padma Awards 2026 list for competitive exams PDF, ensure you focus on the “Field” and “State” columns, as these are common questions in exams like UPSC and SSC.
Don’t forget to check the official Jeevan Raksha Padak winners list 2026 and Rashtrapati Award winners list pdf separately, as the government often releases distinct documents for gallantry and police medals alongside the civilian honors.
Next Step for You: Would you like me to prepare a specialized “Quiz on Padma Awards 2026” based on this data to help you prepare for your upcoming exams?
Disclaimer
This blog post is based on the official Press Note dated 25th January 2026 provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers are advised to verify details with the official Padma Awards 2026 Winners List PDF Download from the government portal.