Padma Awards 2026: Types, Nominations Open, Eligibility & How to Apply

What Are Padma Awards?

The Padma Awards honour individuals who have shown exceptional dedication, excellence, and service in their field. These achievements may be in professional life, social service, innovation, or community welfare.

The awards cover a wide range of fields such as:

• Art and Culture

• Literature and Education

• Sports

• Medicine

• Social Work

• Science and Engineering

• Public Affairs

• Civil Services

• Trade and Industry

Anyone can be recognised—there is no restriction on gender, profession, or social background.

Types of Padma Awards

There are three categories of Padma Awards, based on the level and impact of contribution.

These awards focus more on selfless service and long-term impact than fame or popularity.

Padma Awards 2026 Nominations: Important Dates

• Nominations Opened On: 15 March 2025

• Last Date to Apply: 31 July 2025

• Awards Announcement: 26 January 2026

Nominations must be submitted online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal:
https://awards.gov.in

Who Can Nominate?

• Any Indian citizen

• Organisations or institutions

• Even self-nomination is allowed

The government strongly encourages nominations of women, SC/ST candidates, Divyangjans, and people doing selfless work in rural or marginalised communities.

What Is Required for Nomination?

Each nomination should include:

• A citation of up to 800 words explaining the person’s work

• Clear details of achievements and social impact

• Supporting documents or references (if available)

For official updates, you can visit:

• https://mha.gov.in

• https://padmaawards.gov.in

Padma Awards 2026 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible:

• The nominee must be an Indian citizen

• Open to people from all professions and backgrounds

• Government employees and PSU staff are generally not eligible, except:

  • Doctors

  • Scientists

• Awards may be given posthumously in rare and deserving cases

• A higher Padma Award is usually given after 5 years of the previous award (this rule can be relaxed in exceptional cases)

Fields Covered Under Padma Awards 2026

The awards recognise excellence in almost every field, including:

• Art: Music, cinema, theatre, photography, painting

• Social Work: Environment, sanitation, welfare, community service

• Public Affairs: Law, governance, public life

• Science & Engineering: Research, space science, IT, innovation

• Trade & Industry: Business, banking, textiles, tourism

• Medicine: Allopathy, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, medical research

• Literature & Education: Teaching, journalism, writing

• Civil Service: Outstanding administration

• Sports: Athletes, coaches, sports promoters

• Others: Yoga, spirituality, agriculture, wildlife conservation, grassroots innovation

How to Nominate for Padma Awards 2026

The nomination process is completely online and simple:

1. Visit https://awards.gov.in

2. Register or log in

3. Fill in the nominee’s details

4. Upload documents and references

5. Add a strong 800-word citation

6. Submit the form before 31 July 2025

Padma Awards 2026 Selection Process

Once nominations are submitted:

• They are reviewed by the Padma Awards Committee

• The committee is formed every year by the Prime Minister

• Recommendations are sent to:

  • The Prime Minister

  • The President of India

• Final approval is given by the President

• The final list is announced on Republic Day 2026

Award Ceremony & Recognition

The award ceremony is held at Rashtrapati Bhavan around March or April 2026.

Each awardee receives:

• A Sanad (certificate)

• A medallion

• A miniature medal for ceremonial use

The Padma Awards do not carry any prize money and do not give titles.

Posthumous Awards & Limit

• Posthumous awards are given only in rare and exceptional cases

• A maximum of 120 Padma Awards are given each year (excluding foreigners and posthumous cases)

Padma Awards 2025: Quick Recap

In Padma Awards 2025, a total of 139 individuals were honoured across various fields.

Highlights:

• 23 women awardees

• 13 posthumous awards

• 10 NRI/PIO/OCI/foreign recipients

Why Padma Awards Matter for UPSC & MPSC Aspirants

• Important for Current Affairs

• Useful examples for Ethics (GS-IV) answers

• Relevant for Essay writing and Interviews

Final Thoughts

The Padma Awards 2026 are not just about honouring famous names—they’re about recognising real contributors to society. With nominations open till 31 July 2025, this is the right time to bring deserving individuals into the national spotlight.

If you’re preparing for UPSC or MPSC, staying updated on such topics can give you an edge in both Prelims and Mains.

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