3 min readNew DelhiJan 27, 2026 04:31 PM IST
First published on: Jan 26, 2026 at 10:58 AM IST
The Padma Awards 2026 have once again spotlighted India’s academic excellence, with several eminent educationists making it to the prestigious list. From former University Grants Commission (UGC) chief Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar to IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, the honours celebrate individuals whose contributions have shaped higher education, research, and innovation across the country.
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Announced on the eve of Republic Day, the awards underline the government’s recognition of intellectual leadership and the role of educators in nation-building. This year’s roll of honour places education alongside arts, science, and public service, reaffirming the importance of knowledge as a cornerstone of India’s progress.
Read | Padma Awards 2026 Full List
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.
Based on the Padma Awards 2026 list, the following personalities have been conferred awards in the fields of Literature and Education and Science and Engineering:
Padma Awards 2026: Literature and Education
| Name |
Award |
State/Country |
| P Narayanan |
Padma Vibhushan |
Kerala |
| Asok Kumar Haldar |
Padma Shri |
West Bengal |
| Charan Hembram |
Padma Shri |
Odisha |
| Gambir Singh Yonzone |
Padma Shri |
West Bengal |
| Kailash Chandra Pant |
Padma Shri |
Madhya Pradesh |
| Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova |
Padma Shri |
Russia |
| Mahendra Kumar Mishra |
Padma Shri |
Odisha |
| Mahendra Nath Roy |
Padma Shri |
West Bengal |
| Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (Former UGC Chief) |
Padma Shri |
Delhi |
| Mangala Kapoor |
Padma Shri |
Uttar Pradesh |
| Naresh Chandra Dev Varma |
Padma Shri |
Tripura |
| Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore |
Padma Shri |
Karnataka |
| Rabilal Tudu |
Padma Shri |
West Bengal |
| Ratilal Borisagar |
Padma Shri |
Gujarat |
| Prof. Shafi Shauq |
Padma Shri |
Jammu and Kashmir |
| Shashi Shekhar Vempati |
Padma Shri |
Karnataka |
| Sivasankari |
Padma Shri |
Tamil Nadu |
Vempaty Kutumba Sastry (
Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya Vice Chancellor) |
Padma Shri |
Andhra Pradesh |
Padma Awards 2026: Science and Engineering
| Name |
Award |
State/Country |
| A E Muthunayagam |
Padma Shri |
Kerala |
| Ashok Kumar Singh |
Padma Shri |
Uttar Pradesh |
| Chandramouli Gaddamanugu |
Padma Shri |
Telangana |
| Gopal Ji Trivedi |
Padma Shri |
Bihar |
| Juzer Vasi (IIT-Bombay professor) |
Padma Shri |
Maharashtra |
| K Ramasamy (Former Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) vice-chancellor) |
Padma Shri |
Tamil Nadu |
| Krishnamurty Balasubramanian |
Padma Shri |
Telangana |
| Kumarasamy Thangaraj (Hyderabad’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) |
Padma Shri |
Telangana |
| Prem Lal Gautam (Chancellor, Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University) |
Padma Shri |
Himachal Pradesh |
| Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar |
Padma Shri |
Karnataka |
| Veezhinathan Kamakoti (IIT Madras) |
Padma Shri |
Tamil Nadu |
IIT Madras director V Kamakoti said, “The Padma Shri Award means only one thing to me. That I will put all my best efforts towards ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’. Whatever I have achieved is all because of collective effort, and I dedicate this award to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Jai Hind!”
Former UGC Chief Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, Mangala Kapoor, A E Muthunayagam and Krishnamurty Balasubramanian. (Image: MIB\ X) 
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