Padma Shri 2026 honours 45 ‘unsung heroes’ from across India – Check ful ...

From forgotten villages to crowded city bylanes, this year’sPadma Awards continues the tradition of recognising the common citizens whose lives have been defined by relentless service. Staying true to the spirit of honouring ordinary Indians making extraordinary contributions, the 2026 Padma Shri list celebrated unsung heroes whose work has transformed lives far beyond their own. The list, reported by news agency PTI via sources, spans the length and breadth of India.
What is the ‘Unsung Hero’ Category?

The “Unsung Hero” is not a formal academic category but a distinct thematic shift introduced by the Government of India over the last decade. It refers to grassroots level achievers who have dedicated their lives to the service of society, often working in remote villages or neglected sectors, without any desire for fame, media attention, or official recognition.
These individuals are supposed to embody the spirit of these awards and are also referred to as  &#8216eoples’ Padma’ as these awards move away from ivory towers of disciplines and themes that recognise people working on the grassroots to improve the lives of everyday citizens across India.

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Among the 45 awardees recognised in the ‘unsung heroes’ category are stories that feel almost cinematic in their simplicity and impact. A former bus conductor who went on to build the world’s largest free-access library. A paediatrician who pioneered Asia’sfirst human milk bank, changing neonatal care for countless infants. A 90-year-old musician keeping alive the sound of a rare traditional instrument, long after it faded from public memory.

According to PTI, many of the recipients have overcome personal loss, poverty, discrimination or isolation. They come from marginalised communities, Dalit backgrounds, tribal groups and remote regions, dedicating their lives to healthcare, education, culture, sustainability and social justice.
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Check Full list

This year’s list highlights the diversity of this category Some of the more well known awardees include Anke Gowda who is also known as the ‘Bookman of Mandya.’ As per media reports Gowda spent decades curating a massive library in a rural setting to promote literacy.

Other awardees include individuals like Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan: who has been honored for his tireless efforts in preserving ancient devotional music traditions that were on the verge of extinction. The full list of awardees have been posted below.

S. No.	Name	State / Union Territory
1	Anke Gowda	Karnataka
2	Armida Fernandez	Maharashtra
3	Bhagwandas Raikwar	Madhya Pradesh
4	Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda	Rajasthan
5	Brij Lal Bhat	Jammu & Kashmir
6	Budhri Tati	Chhattisgarh
7	Charan Hembram	West Bengal
8	Chiranji Lal Yadav	Uttar Pradesh
9	Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya	Gujarat
10	Gafruddin Mewati Jogi	Haryana
11	Hally War	Nagaland
12	Inderjit Singh Sidhu	Punjab
13	K Pajanivel	Tamil Nadu
14	Kailash Chandra Pant	Uttarakhand
15	Khem Raj Sundriyal	Uttarakhand
16	Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G	Kerala
17	Kumarasamy Thangaraj	Tamil Nadu
18	Mahendra Kumar Mishra	Bihar
19	Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai	Gujarat
20	Mohan Nagar	Odisha
21	Naresh Chandra Dev Varma	Madhya Pradesh
22	Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala	Maharashtra
23	Nuruddin Ahmed	Delhi
24	Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan	Tamil Nadu
25	Padma Gurmet	Himachal Pradesh
26	Pokhila Lekthepi	Manipur
27	Punniamurthy Natesan	Tamil Nadu
28	R Krishnan	Tamil Nadu
29	Raghupat Singh	Rajasthan
30	Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar	Maharashtra
31	Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar	Tamil Nadu
32	Rama Reddy Mamidi	Andhra Pradesh
33	Ramchandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole	Maharashtra
34	S G Susheelamma	Karnataka
35	Sangyusang S Pongener	Nagaland
36	Shafi Shauq	Jammu & Kashmir
37	Shrirang Devaba Lad	Goa
38	Shyam Sundar	Jharkhand
39	Simanchal Patro	Odisha
40	Suresh Hanagavadi	Karnataka
41	Taga Ram Bheel	Rajasthan
42	Techi Gubin	Arunachal Pradesh
43	Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam	Tamil Nadu
44	Vishwa Bandhu	Himachal Pradesh
45	Yumnam Jatra Singh	Manipur

How are ‘Unsung Heroes’ selected?

The government selects these individuals out of the population of India through a nomination process. The process to nominate unsung heroes for Padma awards was opened to the general public earlier via the Rashtrapati Bhavan portal. Anyone can nominate a deserving individual. This allows people from interior villages to bring their local heroes to the national stage.
Once a nomination is received, specialized teams and district administrations conduct “silent” background checks. They verify the longevity of the person’s work and the actual impact they have had on the ground and finalise a list of awardees.