New Delhi: Veteran actor Dharmendra and former chief minister of Kerala VS Achuthanandan were awarded Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, posthumously for 2026.
Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas was honoured with Padma Vibhushan under the category of public affairs. The list also includes violinist N. Rajam and veteran journalist-writer P. Narayanan under the category of art, and literature and education, respectively.
Overall, the government announced 131 Padma awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri, for this year. Ninety awardees are women, while six are from the category of foreigners, Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), according to a government statement Sunday.
Padma awards are announced every year on the eve of the Republic Day. The recipients are recommended by the Padma Awards Committee, headed by the Prime Minister. The recipients will receive their awards from the President.
Padma Bhushan
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren was honoured with Padma Bhushan posthumously in the field of public affairs. Others to be awarded India’s third-highest civilian award posthumously include advertising guru Piyush Pandey (art) and BJP veteran V.K.Malhotra (public affairs).
Popular playback singer Alka Yagnik (art) is the sole woman recipient of the Padma Bhushan. Malayalam cinema actor and producer Mammootty was also awarded under the art category. Former Uttarakhand CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari and SNDP chief Vellapally Natesan got Padma Bhushan under the public affairs category.
Other notable awardees include business tycoon Uday Kotak (trade and Industry) and Indian tennis legend Vijay Amitraj (sports).
Padma Shri
Late actor Satish Shah was accorded Padma Shri posthumously for his contributions in the entertainment industry. Another representative from the same field is Gujarati director and actor Arvind Vaidya.
University Grants Commission chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and technocrat and former CEO of Prasar Bharati Shashi Shekhar were among the winners from the category of literature and education.
Ex-DRDO scientist Gaddamanugu Chandramouli, who essayed a key role in the development of the indigenous Akash missile system, was awarded Padma Shri under the category of science and technology.
Space scientist A.E. Muthunayagam, the architect of ISRO’s liquid propulsion programme, also featured in this list.
From the world of sports, former India test captain Rohit Sharma, India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, para high jumper Praveen Kumar and hockey player Savita Punia were awarded the country’s fourth-highest civilian award. Coach Baldev Singh also made it to the list for his contribution to the development of women’s hockey team.
Ankita Thakur is an alum of ThePrint School of Journalism
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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