Padma Awards 2026 announced, Dharmendra, Shibu Soren and Rohit Sharma among honourees
India announced the Padma Awards 2026 list, recognising contributions across arts, public affairs, social work, science and sports. Veteran actor Dharmendra, veteran leader Shibu Soren and cricketer Rohit Sharma featured among the prominent names, as the government highlighted a wide cross-section of achievers from different states and fields.
The Padma Awards 2026 were announced on Sunday, January 25, 2026, with the list spanning multiple disciplines and celebrating work that ranges from public service and culture to science and sport. The annual honours—among India’s highest civilian awards—were framed by the government as a recognition of sustained excellence and service to the nation.
Among the more widely discussed names this year is veteran actor Dharmendra, whose decades-long career has shaped popular Hindi cinema and earned him enduring public affection. Also included is senior political leader Shibu Soren, known for his long involvement in public life and regional politics. In sport, India captain Rohit Sharma was named among the recipients, underlining how mainstream sporting achievement increasingly features in the civilian honours ecosystem.
The broader list, as typically seen with the Padma announcements, includes awardees drawn from varied professions and geographies, including individuals who have worked outside the spotlight in social welfare, community service, and grassroots innovation. For many recipients, the citation is as much about sustained impact as it is about headline achievements.
The Padma honours are generally conferred in three categories—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri—reflecting different levels of recognition for contributions in respective fields. The announcements often trigger public debate around who is included, who is missed, and how the award system balances celebrity, public visibility, and quieter forms of service.
This year’s list arrives amid a busy national calendar, with Republic Day events around the corner and policy attention turning towards major governance milestones in the first quarter. The Padma announcements, in that sense, also function as a national moment—an official roll call of people the state believes represent achievement, service and inspiration.
As the honours move to the next stage, recipients typically attend the investiture ceremony where awards are formally presented. For the public, the list is likely to remain in focus over the coming days as names are discussed across industries, regions and professional communities, and as detailed citations are read closely for the work being recognised.