Padma Awards 2026 honour Dharmendra, Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet among 131 achievers

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On the eve of Republic Day, the central government has announced the country's prestigious civilian honor, the "Padma Awards 2026." The official list, released by the Union Home Ministry (MHA) on Sunday, includes the names of 131 personalities who have made an indelible mark in the fields of art, sports, literature, and social service. The President has given his approval for these awards. This year's list includes names ranging from legendary actor Dharmendra to cricket's "Hitman" Rohit Sharma.

Five were awarded the Padma Vibhushan, 13 were awarded the Bhushan; a flurry of posthumous honours

Looking at the statistics, this year, five personalities will be honored with the Padma Vibhushan, 13 with the Padma Bhushan, and 113 with the Padma Shri. Notably, this list includes 19 women and six foreign/NRI citizens. Sixteen individuals are being honored posthumously. In two cases, the awards are being combined.

Dharmendra and Achuthanandan get highest honour

Bollywood veteran Dharmendra and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan have been selected (posthumously) for the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian honor. Renowned classical violinist N. Rajam and senior jurist K.T. Thomas will also receive the Padma Vibhushan.

Alka Yagnik and Mammootty awarded Padma Bhushan

The list of Padma Bhushan recipients showcases a blend of the arts and industry. Prominent names include:

Art: Renowned playback singer Alka Yagnik and actor Mammootty.

Industry: Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Sports: Former tennis player Vijay Amritraj.

Others: Advertising giant Piyush Pandey (posthumously).

Rohit and Harmanpreet were awarded the Padma Shri, while Satish Shah was also honoured.

The list of Padma Shri winners is dominated by the sports world and 'unsung heroes'. Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur and hockey star Savita Punia will be awarded the Padma Shri. Meanwhile, popular actor Satish Shah from the entertainment world will be awarded the Padma Shri posthumously. This time too, the government has included in the list many unsung heroes working at the grassroots level, who have worked selflessly in the fields of social service, medicine and education.