Nominations open for Padma Awards 2026, deadline set for July 31

New Delhi, Jul 2: The process of nominations and recommendations for the Padma Awards 2026, which will be announced on Republic Day next year, began on March 15 and will remain open until July 31, 2025. Nominations can be submitted exclusively through the online Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at https://awards.gov.in. The Padma Awards—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are among India's highest civilian honours, instituted in 1954 to recognise distinguished and exceptional achievements across diverse fields.

Eligible domains include art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry, among others.

All Indian citizens are eligible, regardless of race, gender, occupation or position. However, government employees, including those in public sector undertakings, are not eligible for the awards, with the exception of doctors and scientists.

The government aims to make the awards more inclusive under its "People’s Padma" initiative and has urged citizens to actively participate by nominating deserving individuals. Emphasis is placed on identifying unsung heroes from marginalised sections, including women, SCs, STs, divyang persons, and those engaged in selfless community service. Each nomination must follow the prescribed format available on the portal, including a narrative citation of up to 800 words outlining the nominee’s exceptional contributions. Further information, including award statutes and nomination guidelines, can be found on the Ministry of Home Affairs website (https://mha.gov.in) and the Padma Awards portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in).