Padma Shri for Ashok Khade, the Dalit entrepreneur who built DAS Offshore

Ashok Khade, the managing director of DAS Offshore Engineering Private Limited, has been conferred the Padma Shri for 2026 in the trade and industry category, an honour that celebrates one of India's most striking entrepreneurial journeys. The Ashok Khade Padma Shri recognition rewards a rise from acute poverty to the leadership of a company that serves the offshore oil and gas sector, and Khade dedicated the award to his mother and family, crediting their sacrifices for his success.