Sun Jan 25 13:31:58 UTC 2026: # India Honors Achievers Across Diverse Fields with Padma Awards 2026
The Story: On the eve of the 77th Republic Day, President Draupadi Murmu announced the conferment of 131 Padma awards recognizing distinguished service across various fields, including art, social work, science, and medicine. The list, released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awardees. This year’s awards particularly highlight contributions to agriculture, with eight individuals dedicated to agriculture, animal husbandry, and crop sciences being recognized. Other significant areas recognized include science and engineering, with laureates from ISRO, DRDO, IITs, and CSIR-CCMB.
Key Points:
- A total of 131 Padma awards were announced.
- Eight awardees are dedicated to agriculture, animal husbandry, and crop sciences.
- Ashok Kumar Singh, a plant geneticist, is recognized for developing high-yielding Basmati rice varieties.
- Jogesh Deuri is recognized for promoting ‘Eri’ silk farming in Assam.
- The ‘Science and Engineering’ category includes figures from ISRO (A.E. Muthunayagam), DRDO (Chandramouli Gaddamanugu), and various IITs.
- V. Kamakoti, IIT-Madras director and SHAKTI microprocessor developer, is on the list.
- Two laureates, Rama Reddy Mamidi and Raghupat Singh, were awarded posthumously.
Key Takeaways:
- The Padma Awards 2026 reflect a commitment to recognizing contributions across a broad spectrum of fields, from agriculture and grassroots innovation to advanced science and engineering.
- The emphasis on agricultural scientists and innovators underscores the importance of agricultural advancements in India.
- The recognition of scientists and engineers from national institutions like ISRO, DRDO, and IITs highlights India’s growing prowess in science and technology.
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