Padma Shri Unsung Heroes: Doctors, artists honored in 2026 list
Padma Shri Unsung Heroes: Doctors, artists honored in 2026 list
Forty-five individuals across India are named Padma Shri ‘Unsung Heroes’, celebrating doctors, artists and everyday champions who quietly strengthen the nation.
Padma Shri awards, announced on the eve of Republic Day, honour 45 Indians in the ‘Unsung Heroes’ category. The list spans doctors who tackle local health challenges, artists who keep indigenous crafts alive, social workers who bridge gaps between communities, and many others quietly serving Bharat Mata.
Among the recipients are Armida Fernandes, a Mumbai-based paediatrician who formed Asia’s first human milk bank, and Anke Gowda, noted for her social impact work. An 88-year-old ex-IPS officer from Chandigarh is recognised for cleaning the city’s streets. Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh is honoured alongside Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, a 90-year-old Tarpa musician from Maharashtra, who crafts and plays a bottle gourd and bamboo instrument. Brij Lal Bhat, a noted social worker from Jammu and Kashmir, is also on the list, among many others.
From doctors working with haemophilia to neonatologists who started India’s first human milk bank, to preserving India’s indigenous heritage and promoting national integration in border States, to promoting tribal languages and indigenous martial arts, to safeguarding ecological wealth and championing swachhta—this year’s unsung heroes embody everyday service to Bharat Mata.
The honour underscores that impact goes beyond headlines; the 45 names reflect diverse contributions shaping lives across India's vast tapestry.
