Padma Awards 2026: Nominations Open Till July 31, 2025

TIT Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com

NEW DELHI, 02 JULY: Nominations for the prestigious Padma Awards–2026 have officially opened from March 15, 2025, and will be accepted until July 31, 2025. The awards—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri—are among India’s highest civilian honours and will be announced on the occasion of Republic Day 2026. Nominations and recommendations can be submitted exclusively through the online Rashtriya Puraskar Portal: https://awards.gov.in.

Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards recognize exceptional and distinguished service across diverse fields including Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry, among others. The awards are open to all citizens, irrespective of race, occupation, position, or gender. However, government servants, including those working in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), are generally not eligible—except for Doctors and Scientists.

Aligned with the government’s vision to transform the Padma Awards into “People’s Padma,” citizens are encouraged to submit nominations, including self-nominations. The emphasis is on identifying unsung heroes—especially from women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, divyang (differently-abled) persons, and individuals from weaker sections—who have rendered selfless service to society.

Nominations must be accompanied by all necessary details as specified in the online format, including an 800-word citation highlighting the nominee’s exceptional contributions. Further information is available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website (https://mha.gov.in) and the Padma Awards portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in).