Dharmendra, Ex-Kerala CM Achuthanandan get Padma Vibhushan

The Union home ministry on Sunday announced 131 Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian awards of the country namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

Actor Dharmendra Singh Deol was conferred Padma Vibhusan (posthumously). Former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan (posthumous), classical violinist N Rajam, former Supreme Court Judge KT Thomas, and noted writer P Narayanan were also awarded the highest civilian award, according to an official statement.

Among the states, Maharashtra got the highest number of recognition with 15 Padma awards, followed by Tamil Nadu (13), West Bengal (11), Uttar Pradesh (12), Kerala (8) and Telangana (7). The awards are given in various fields of activities, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service. For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards, including "unsung heroes". Nineteen of the awardees are women and the list also includes 6 persons from the category of foreigners, NRI, PIO, OCI and 16 posthumous awardees, the official statement noted.


Among the notable awardees were tennis legend Vijay Amritraj who was awarded Padma Bhushan; cricketer Rohit Sharma, hockey player Savita Punia were conferred with Padma Shri. Actors R Madhavan and Prosenjit Chatterjee were also awarded Padma Shri. Playback singer Alka Yagnik, former Uttarakhand CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari, actor Mammootty and banker Uday Kotak were awarded Padma Bhushan, according to the MHA.

Advertisement guru Piyush Pandey, JMM founder Shibu Soren, BJP leader VK Malhotra were awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously. Among other awardees were former JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar and former Prasar Bharti CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati who were conferred with Padma Shri. Former bureaucrats K Vijay Kumar and RVS Mani were also conferred with Padma Shri.