Padma Awards 2026 list: Social reformers to artist

• Padma Awards honor unsung heroes from diverse backgrounds.
• Tamil Nadu has a strong presence among awardees.
• Recipients recognized for contributions in health, education, arts, and environment.

This year’s Padma Awards have brought national recognition to a wide group of unsung heroes from across India. Following the spirit of the “People’s Padma”, the awards celebrate ordinary Indians who have made

extraordinary contributions through lifelong service to society.

Notably, several Padma recipients this year are from Tamil Nadu, highlighting the state’s strong presence among those quietly working at the grassroots level.

Celebrating service beyond fame

The awardees come from diverse backgrounds and regions, including remote and difficult terrains. Many belong to marginalised Backward and Dalit communities, primitive tribes and underserved areas. Despite facing personal hardships and tragedies, they have dedicated their lives to serving others.

Their work spans healthcare, education, livelihoods, sanitation, sustainability and social welfare. Many have worked closely with Divyangjan, women, children, Dalits and tribal communities.

Diverse fields of contribution

This year’s Padma recipients include doctors addressing local health challenges such as haemophilia, and a neonatologist who set up India’s first human milk bank. Others have focused on preserving indigenous heritage, promoting national integration in border states, supporting tribal languages and indigenous martial arts, and safeguarding dying arts and traditional weaves.

Several awardees have also worked to protect ecological wealth, promote afforestation and champion cleanliness. Together, they represent everyday Indians quietly serving the nation.

Unsung Padma Awardees 2026

Here is the Padma Awardees list presented clearly in tabular form, strictly based on the information you provided:

No.	Name	Field	State / Region
1	Anke Gowda	Literature & Education	Karnataka
2	Armida Fernandez	Medicine	Maharashtra
3	Bhagwandas Raikwar	Sports	Madhya Pradesh
4	Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda	Art	Maharashtra
5	Brij Lal Bhat	Social Work	Jammu and Kashmir
6	Budhri Tati	Social Work	Chhattisgarh
7	Charan Hembram	Literature & Education	Odisha
8	Chiranji Lal Yadav	Brass Artist	Uttar Pradesh
9	Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya	Art	Gujarat
10	Gafruddin Mewati Jogi	Art	Rajasthan
11	Hally War	Agriculture (Khasi farmer)	Meghalaya
12	Inderjit Singh Sidhu	Social Work	Chandigarh
13	K Pajanivel	Art	Puducherry
14	Kailash Chandra Pant	Literature & Education	Madhya Pradesh
15	Khem Raj Sundriyal	Art	Haryana
16	Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G	Environment (Afforestation)	Kerala
17	Kumarasamy Thangaraj	Indian Genetics	Hyderabad
18	Mahendra Kumar Mishra	Literature & Education	Gujarat
19	Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai	Art	Gujarat
20	Mohan Nagar	Environment	Madhya Pradesh
21	Naresh Chandra Debbarma	Literature & Education	Tripura
22	Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala	Social Work	Gujarat
23	Nuruddin Ahmed	Art	Assam
24	Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan	Art	Tamil Nadu
25	Padma Gurmet	Medicine	Ladakh
26	Pokhila Lekthepi	Art	Assam
27	Punniamurthy Natesan	Veterinary Science	Tamil Nadu
28	R Krishnan	Art (Painter)	Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris)
29	Raghupat Singh	Agriculture	Uttar Pradesh
30	Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar	Art	Maharashtra
31	Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar	Art	Tamil Nadu
32	Rama Reddy Mamidi	Animal Husbandry (Dairy)	Telangana
33	Ramchandra Godbole	Medicine	Chhattisgarh
34	Sunita Godbole	Medicine	Chhattisgarh
35	S G Susheelamma	Social Work	Karnataka
36	Sangyusang S Pongener	Art	Nagaland
37	Shafi Shauq	Literature & Education	Kashmir
38	Shrirang Devaba Lad	Agriculture	Maharashtra
39	Shyam Sundar	Medicine	Uttar Pradesh
40	Simanchal Patro	Art	Odisha
41	Suresh Hanagavadi	Medicine	Karnataka
42	Taga Ram Bheel	Art	Rajasthan
43	Techi Gubin	Social Work	Arunachal Pradesh
44	Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam	Art	Tamil Nadu
45	Vishwa Bandhu	Padma Shri	Bihar
46	Yumnam Jatra Singh	Art	Manipur