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 ‘ eoples’ 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. |
