From Sports to Public Life: Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Vijay Amritraj and Dharmendra Among Padma Awards 2026 Honourees

From Sports to Public Life: Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Vijay Amritraj and Dharmendra Among Padma Awards 2026 Honourees.The Government of India on Sunday announced the prestigious Padma Awards for 2026, recognising exceptional contributions across sports, arts, public affairs, medicine, literature, science, and social work. Among the prominent names this year are Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, and Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, highlighting the strong presence of sports personalities in this year’s honours list.

As per an official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the President of India has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards for 2026. The list includes five Padma Vibhushan,13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards, spanning a wide spectrum of disciplines and regions. Notably, 19 women have been honoured this year, while the list also includes six foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs, along with 16 posthumous awardees.

Celebrating Excellence in Indian Sports

Indian cricket continues to command national admiration, with former India men’s team captain Rohit Sharma being awarded the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to the sport. Rohit, one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history, has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s dominance across formats. The award comes at a time when he remains central to India’s ambitions in the upcoming T20 World Cup at home, further underlining his enduring impact on the game.

Equally significant is the recognition of Harmanpreet Kaur, the current captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, who will also receive the Padma Shri. Harmanpreet recently led the women’s team to a historic World Cup title on home soil, marking a landmark moment for women’s cricket in India. Her aggressive leadership, resilience, and match-winning performances have inspired a new generation of female cricketers.

In hockey, Savita Punia, India’s dependable goalkeeper and a stalwart of the women’s national team, has been honoured with the Padma Shri for her contributions to the sport. Her consistent performances on the international stage have been instrumental in India’s resurgence in women’s hockey.

Adding to the sports honours, Vijay Amritraj, one of India’s most celebrated tennis players and a global ambassador for the sport, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan. Amritraj’s influence extends beyond his on-court achievements, having played a crucial role in popularising tennis in India and representing the country with distinction on the world stage.

Honouring Legacy and Mentorship

Among the posthumous awardees is Vladimir Mestvirishvili, the renowned Georgian wrestling coach who made India his home and played a transformative role in Indian wrestling. Awarded the Padma Shri, Mestvirishvili coached Olympic and world-class wrestlers such as Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia, and Ravi Dahiya, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped India’s wrestling ecosystem.

Other sports figures honoured with the Padma Shri include Baldev Singh, Bhagwandas Raikwar, K Pajanivel, and Praveen Kumar, reflecting the government’s emphasis on recognising contributions across both mainstream and grassroots sports.

Distinguished Contributions Across Fields

The Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, will be conferred upon five individuals, including Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) in the field of art, veteran public affairs leader V S Achuthanandhan (posthumous), and classical violinist N Rajam. These honours celebrate lifetimes of exceptional and distinguished service to the nation.

The Padma Bhushan recipients list features notable names such as legendary singer Alka Yagnik, acclaimed actor Mammootty, industrialist Uday Kotak, and advertising pioneer Piyush Pandey (posthumous). Their inclusion underscores the diversity of excellence recognised by the Padma Awards, spanning culture, business, public service, and medicine.

The extensive Padma Shri list of 113 awardees reflects India’s rich cultural and intellectual fabric, with honourees from science and engineering, literature and education, archaeology, agriculture, medicine, social work, and the arts. Several recipients hail from remote and underrepresented regions, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the awards.

What Are the Padma Awards?

The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in India and are conferred in three categories—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Instituted to recognise distinguished service across various fields, the awards honour excellence in art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service, among others.

The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. These awards are announced annually on the occasion of Republic Day.

Ceremonial Conferment at Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Padma Awards are formally conferred by the President of India during ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually in March or April each year. The ceremonies serve as a national tribute to individuals whose dedication and achievements have significantly contributed to India’s progress and global reputation.

With the 2026 Padma Awards, the government once again highlights the spirit of service, excellence, and dedication that defines India’s achievers—across sports arenas, cultural platforms, laboratories, classrooms, and communities—celebrating the individuals who continue to shape the nation’s story.

Padma Vibhushan (Second Highest Civilian Award)

Padma Bhushan

Padma Shri (Selected Names from 113 Recipients)

Padma Shri Awardees Full List.

Disclaimer: This information is based on various inputs from news agency