Delhi, 30 July (H.S.): The nomination period for Padma Awards has been extended to 15th August 2025, with submissions accepted only through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in). Nominations for the Padma Awards 2026, to be announced on Republic Day 2026, began on 15th March 2025. The Padma Awards—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri—are among the highest civilian honors in India, established in 1954, and are awarded annually on Republic Day to individuals who demonstrate exceptional achievements across various fields, including Art, Literature, Sports, Medicine, and Social Work.

All individuals, regardless of race, occupation, or gender, are eligible, except for government employees (excluding doctors and scientists). The initiative aims to create a People’s Padma, encouraging citizens to nominate deserving individuals, especially those from marginalized communities.

Nominations should follow the provided format, including a narrative citation (up to 800 words) detailing the nominee's achievements. More information and guidelines are available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website (https://mha.gov.in) and the Padma Awards Portal (https://padmaawards.gov.in).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar