Padma Awards and Gallantry Awards

Padma Awards and Gallantry Awards

Context

On the eve of the 77th Republic Day in January 2026, the Government of India announced the prestigious Padma Awards and Gallantry Awards. These honors recognize exceptional service and bravery across various fields, maintaining a tradition that dates back to 1954.

Padma Awards 2026: Statistics and Key Recipients

The President of India approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards for the year 2026, including two duo cases.

• Padma Vibhushan (5): Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
  • Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous): Art (Maharashtra)
  • V.S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous): Public Affairs (Kerala)
  • K.T. Thomas: Public Affairs (Kerala)
  • N. Rajam: Art (Uttar Pradesh)
  • P. Narayanan: Literature and Education (Kerala)
• Padma Bhushan (13): Awarded for distinguished service of high order.
  • Key Names: Alka Yagnik (Art), Mammootty (Art), Uday Kotak (Trade & Industry), and Shibu Soren (Posthumous).
• Padma Shri (113): Awarded for distinguished service in any field.
  • Notable Awardees: Rohit Sharma (Sports), Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar (Sports), and 45 "Unsung Heroes" including Anke Gowda (Social Work) and Armida Fernandez (Medicine).

Note: The 2026 list includes 19 women and 16 posthumous awardees, reflecting a diverse range of contributions to Indian society.

Constitutional Framework and Validity

The status of National Awards is governed by specific constitutional provisions and judicial clarifications to ensure they do not create a titled aristocracy.

• Article 18(1): Explicitly abolishes titles. The State is prohibited from conferring any title except military or academic distinctions.
• Article 14: National Awards must not violate the right to equality by creating "artificial distinctions."
• Judicial Precedent - Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996):
  • The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of National Awards.
  • Ruling: These awards are "decorations" and not "titles" within the meaning of Article 18.
  • Restriction: Recipients cannot use these awards as prefixes or suffixes to their names (e.g., on letterheads, nameplates, or in books). Any such use can lead to the forfeiture of the award.

Gallantry Awards: Bravery in Focus

Gallantry Awards are announced twice a year on Republic Day and Independence Day to honor acts of bravery and sacrifice.

• Classification:
  • War Time: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra.
  • Peace Time: Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra.
• 2026 Highlight:
  • Ashok Chakra: Conferred upon Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for his extraordinary courage during the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS). He is the first Indian astronaut to receive this honor for a space mission.
  • Kirti Chakra: Awarded to Major Arshdeep Singh and Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair.

Historical Context

• Origin: Instituted in 1954 to recognize merit and service.
• Suspensions: The awards were not conferred during two periods due to political changes and judicial reviews:
  • 1978–1979: Suspended by the Morarji Desai-led government.
  • 1993–1997: Suspended during the pendency of the Balaji Raghavan case in the Supreme Court.

Way Forward

• Transparency: Continued emphasis on a "People's Padma" through public nominations to discover unsung heroes.
• Integrity: Ensuring that awardees adhere to the constitutional mandate of not using honors as titles.
• Global Recognition: Utilizing these platforms to highlight India's advancements in science, such as recognizing space exploration milestones with traditional gallantry honors.

Conclusion

The 2026 honors list serves as a bridge between India's traditional appreciation for service and its modern aspirations in space and technology. While the awards celebrate individual excellence, they remain firmly anchored in the egalitarian principles of the Indian Constitution.