Hyderabad: Seven individuals from Telangana were named Padma Shri awardees on the 77th Republic Day for their contributions in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, arts, and social service.
Padma Shri is among India’s highest civilian honours. The awards are announced every year on 25 January, the day before Republic Day. The other Padma awards include the Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service and the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of higher order.
In 2026, 131 individuals across the country were awarded the Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu.
Aerospace engineer Chandramouli Gaddamanugu was among the chosen. The former Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist, known for the short-range surface-to-air missile ‘Akash’ from development to deployment, the rockets were used during Operation Sindoor. His work has been closely linked to India’s advancement of its indigenous defence capabilities.
Dr Guduru Venkat Rao, a gastroenterologist at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) Hospitals, was recognised for advancing minimally invasive treatments for digestive disorders. He has performed over 12,000 surgeries and 16,000 endoscopic procedures, and was among the first to carry out a scar-free appendix removal through the mouth. He is also part of a team working on new methods to manage diabetes.
Oncologist Dr Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy was also awarded the Padma Shri for improving cancer treatment by introducing shorter and more targeted radiation therapies, as well as new techniques for treating brain tumours.
Materials scientist Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian received the award for his work on minerals critical to defence and space technologies. At the same time, Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was recognised for his research on the genetic history of Indian populations.
The Padma Shri was awarded posthumously to Rama Reddy Mamidi for strengthening rural cooperatives and women-led dairy initiatives. Classical dancer Deepika Reddy was among the awardees for promoting Kuchipudi and Indian classical dance on international platforms.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated the awardees, calling the recognition a reflection of Telangana’s contributions to national development in a post on X.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)