**Policy Summary: Extension of Nomination Deadline for Padma Awards 2026**
The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the deadline for nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards 2026 from July 31, 2025, to August 15, 2025. The Padma Awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are among the highest civilian awards in India, recognizing distinguished and exceptional achievements/service across various fields/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, and Trade and Industry. Instituted in 1954, the awards are announced annually on Republic Day. All individuals are eligible, irrespective of race, occupation, position, or sex, with the exception of government servants (excluding doctors and scientists). The government encourages citizen participation in the nomination process, including self-nomination, with a focus on identifying talented individuals from underrepresented groups (women, weaker sections, SCs/STs, Divyang persons) who are providing selfless service to society. Nominations/recommendations must be submitted online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in) and should include all specified details, including a citation in narrative form (maximum 800 words) highlighting the nominee's distinguished achievements/service. Further details are available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website (https://mha.gov.in) under 'Awards and Medals' and on the Padma Awards Portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in). The statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the website with the link https://padmaawards.gov.inAboutAwards.aspx. Nominations for the Padma Awards 2026, to be announced on Republic Day 2026, commenced on March 15, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy.
Padma Awards 2026: A set of India's highest civilian awards to be announced in 2026.
Republic Day, 2026: The date on which the Padma Awards 2026 will be announced.
Padma Vibhushan: The second highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
Padma Bhushan: The third highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
Padma Shri: The fourth highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
Rashtriya Puraskar Portal: Online portal for submitting nominations and recommendations for the Padma Awards.
Delhi: Location of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) that posted the notification.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Last date for nomination for Padma Awards-2026
extended till 15th August, 2025
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 11:07AM by PIB Delhi
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The last date for nominations/recommendations for Padma Awards has been extended from 31 July, 2025 to
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15 August, 2025. The nominations/recommendations for Padma Awards will only be received online on the
Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in ). Nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards-
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2026 to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2026 started on 15 March, 2025.
The Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest
civilian awards of the country. Instituted in 1954, these Awards are announced on the occasion of the
Republic Day every year. The Award seeks to recognize ‘work of distinction’ and is given for distinguished
and exceptional achievements/service in all fields/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports,
Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. All
persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. Government
servants including those working with PSUs, except Doctors and Scientists, are not eligible for Padma
Awards.
The Government is committed to transform Padma Awards into “People’s Padma”. All citizens are, therefore,
requested to make nominations/recommendations, including self-nomination. Concerted efforts may be made
to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognized from amongst
women, weaker sections of the society, SCs & STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to the
society.
The nominations/recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the
above said Portal, including a citation in narrative form (maximum 800 words), clearly bringing out the
distinguished and exceptional achievements/service of the person recommended in her/his respective
field/discipline.
Details in this regard are also available under the heading 'Awards and Medals' on the website of Ministry of
Home Affairs (https://mha.gov.in) and on the Padma Awards Portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in). The
statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the website with the link
https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx .
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