The Ministry of Home Affairs has opened nominations for the Padma Awards 2026, which will be announced on Republic Day, January 26, 2026. Nominations are being accepted from March 15, 2025, until July 31, 2025, exclusively through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in). The Padma Awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are among India's highest civilian honors, recognizing distinguished achievements and service across various fields. All citizens are eligible, with the exception of government servants (excluding doctors and scientists). The government encourages nominations of deserving individuals, particularly women, members of weaker sections, SCs/STs, Divyang persons, and those engaged in selfless service. Nominations must include detailed information and a citation highlighting the nominee's exceptional achievements, adhering to the specified format on the portal. Further details are available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website (https://mha.gov.in) and the Padma Awards Portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The government ministry responsible for the Padma Awards nominations.
Padma Awards 2026: The specific iteration of the Padma Awards being announced in 2026.
31st July, 2025: The last date for nominations for the Padma Awards 2026.
20 MAY 2025: Date the notification was posted by PIB Delhi.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the notification.
Republic Day, 2026: The occasion on which the Padma Awards 2026 will be announced.
15 March, 2025: The date nominations for Padma Awards 2026 started.
Rashtriya Puraskar Portal: The online portal (https:awards.gov.in) where nominations for the Padma Awards are to be submitted.
Padma Vibhushan: One of the categories of the Padma Awards, described as amongst the highest civilian awards.
Padma Bhushan: One of the categories of the Padma Awards, described as amongst the highest civilian awards.
Padma Shri: One of the categories of the Padma Awards, described as amongst the highest civilian awards.
1954: The year the Padma Awards were instituted.
Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry: Examples of fields/disciplines in which the Padma Awards are given.
Government: The entity committed to transform Padma Awards into Peoples Padma.
Peoples Padma: The intended future state of the Padma Awards.
SCs STs: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, categories mentioned for identifying talented persons.
divyang persons: Persons with disabilities, a category mentioned for identifying talented persons.
Awards and Medals: The heading under which details are available on the website of Ministry of Home Affairs.
https:mha.gov.in: Website of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Padma Awards Portal: An online portal dedicated to the Padma Awards. URL: https:padmaawards.gov.in
https:padmaawards.gov.inAboutAwards.aspx: Link to the statutes and rules relating to the Padma Awards.
RKVVASHPRPS: Potentially an internal identifier or code related to the release. (Needs more context for a complete understanding).
2129865: Release ID
Ministry of Home Affairs
Nominations for Padma Awards–2026 open till 31st
July, 2025
Posted On: 20 MAY 2025 3:26PM by PIB Delhi
Nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards-2026 to be announced on the occasion of Republic
th st
Day, 2026 have started on 15 March, 2025. The last date for nominations for Padma Awards is 31 July,
2025. The nominations/recommendations for Padma Awards will only be received online on the Rashtriya
Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in ).
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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RK/VV/ASH/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2129865)