Padma Awards 2026: the full list of honourees and what it signals

The Padma Awards 2026 recognise 131 people from across India and beyond, in a list that ranges from a billionaire banker to a retired police officer who sweeps the streets each morning. Announced on the eve of Republic Day and conferred at ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the awards offer one of the clearest annual snapshots of the achievements the country chooses to celebrate. This year's list spans business, science, the arts, sport, medicine, literature and social work, and once again gives