Relevance: APPSC Relevance: GROUP 1, PAPER III – GOVERNANCE – Women self-help groups, rural livelihoods, MSME development, SERP, poverty reduction
For Prelims:
- DWCRA, DAY-NRLM, Collateral-Free Loan, Women-led MSMEs, SERP, Velugu, Detailed Project Report, Food Processing, Agriculture-Allied Activities
For Mains:
- Women entrepreneurship, rural livelihoods, financial inclusion, self-help groups, MSME-led growth, inclusive development, credit access, grassroots enterprise development
Why in News?
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has announced a major financial initiative for DWCRA women. Under this initiative, eligible women can avail personal loans up to ₹10 lakh without collateral to start or expand MSME units. The announcement was made by Kondapalli Srinivas, Minister for MSME, SERP, and NRI Empowerment & Relations.
The initiative aims to strengthen rural livelihoods and support women-led businesses in Andhra Pradesh. The loans will be provided under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, which focuses on poverty alleviation through self-employment and skill development.
What is the Initiative?
The initiative allows DWCRA women in Andhra Pradesh to obtain loans up to ₹10 lakh without giving any security or collateral.
The main aim is to help women:
- Start new MSME units
- Expand existing enterprises
- Increase household income
- Strengthen rural livelihoods
- Promote women-led businesses
This is especially useful for women from economically weaker sections, as lack of collateral is often a major barrier to getting loans.
What is DWCRA?
DWCRA stands for Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas.
It is linked to women’s self-help group movement in rural areas. DWCRA groups have played an important role in:
- Women’s savings
- Small loans
- Livelihood activities
- Skill development
- Community-based development
- Poverty reduction
In Andhra Pradesh, DWCRA women are an important part of the rural self-help group ecosystem.
What is DAY-NRLM?
DAY-NRLM stands for Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
It is a flagship programme for poverty reduction through community institutions such as self-help groups. Its main objective is to improve rural livelihoods through self-employment, skill development and access to credit.
Under the present initiative, loans for DWCRA women will be provided through this framework.
Key Features of the Initiative
1. Loan up to ₹10 lakh
- DWCRA women can avail personal loans of up to ₹10 lakh for setting up or expanding MSME units.
2. No collateral required
- The most important feature is that women do not need to provide any security or collateral. This makes the loan accessible to poor and rural women.
3. Support for new and existing enterprises
- The loans are available both for women who are already running enterprises and for women who want to start new MSME units.
4. Priority to rural economy-based sectors
- Priority will be given to businesses in agriculture-allied and food processing sectors.
5. Assistance in DPR preparation
- Officials from the Velugu division of the SERP Department will help women prepare Detailed Project Reports and guide them through the application process.
Priority Sectors
The government has identified sectors with strong rural employment and income potential. These include:
- Drumstick cultivation
- Honey production
- Mushroom farming
- Plant nurseries
- Solar drying units
- Protected farming
- Fisheries
- Food processing units
These sectors are suitable for rural women because they are linked to local resources, agriculture and small-scale production.
Significance
1. Promotes Women Entrepreneurship
- The initiative encourages women to become entrepreneurs instead of depending only on wage labour or household income.
2. Strengthens Rural Livelihoods
- Loans for agriculture-allied and food processing activities can create income opportunities within villages.
3. Improves Financial Inclusion
- Collateral-free loans help women who do not have land, property or assets to offer as security.
4. Supports MSME Growth
- Women-led MSMEs can contribute to local production, employment and rural industrialisation.
5. Reduces Poverty
- When women earn income, it improves family welfare, children’s education, nutrition and household savings.
6. Encourages Local Value Addition
- Activities like mushroom farming, honey production, solar drying and food processing can increase the value of local agricultural produce.
Challenges
1. Awareness Gap
- Many rural women may not know about the scheme, eligibility and application process.
2. Business Skills
- Women may need training in accounting, marketing, packaging, digital payments and business management.
3. Market Access
- Producing goods is not enough. Women-led enterprises need access to buyers, transport, branding and online markets.
4. Loan Repayment Risk
- Without proper business planning, income may not be sufficient to repay loans on time.
5. Need for Continuous Handholding
- DPR preparation alone is not enough. Women entrepreneurs need regular support after loan sanction also.
Way Forward
- The government should conduct awareness drives through DWCRA groups, village secretariats and SERP field staff.
- Women should be trained in basic business skills, digital payments, packaging, branding and market linkage.
- Banks should process applications in a simple and time-bound manner.
- Priority sectors should be linked with local resources. For example, coastal areas can promote fisheries, while agriculture-rich areas can promote food processing and nurseries.
- The government should create district-level support cells to help women entrepreneurs with licensing, marketing, GST registration, quality certification and e-commerce platforms.
Conclusion
The Andhra Pradesh government’s collateral-free loan initiative for DWCRA women is an important step towards women empowerment, rural livelihood creation and MSME development. By providing loans up to ₹10 lakh without collateral, the scheme reduces a major barrier faced by rural women.
However, its success will depend on awareness, training, market linkages and continuous handholding. If implemented effectively, it can create a strong network of women-led rural enterprises in Andhra Pradesh.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to the Andhra Pradesh government’s loan initiative for DWCRA women, consider the following statements:
- DWCRA women can avail loans up to ₹10 lakh without collateral.
- The loans are meant only for women who are already running enterprises.
- The initiative aims to support women-led MSME businesses.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: DWCRA women can avail loans up to ₹10 lakh without collateral.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The loans are available both for existing enterprises and for women planning to start new MSME units.
- Statement 3 is correct: The initiative aims to strengthen rural livelihoods and support women-led MSME businesses.
Additional Information: Collateral-free credit is important because many rural women may not own land or property in their names.
Q. Consider the following sectors:
- Mushroom farming
- Honey production
- Solar drying units
- Fisheries
Which of the above have been identified as priority areas under the AP collateral-free loan initiative for DWCRA women?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 4 only
C. 1, 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Mushroom farming, honey production, solar drying units and fisheries are among the suggested areas under the initiative.
- These sectors have strong relevance to rural economies and agriculture-allied livelihoods.
Additional Information:
Agriculture-allied enterprises can help rural women earn regular income without moving away from their villages.
FAQs
1. What has Andhra Pradesh announced for DWCRA women?
Andhra Pradesh has announced collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh for DWCRA women to start or expand MSME units.
2. Is collateral required for these loans?
No. The loans are collateral-free, which means women do not need to provide security or assets.
3. Under which programme will the loans be provided?
The loans will be provided under DAY-NRLM.
4. Which sectors will get priority?
Agriculture-allied and food processing sectors such as mushroom farming, honey production, plant nurseries, fisheries and solar drying units will get priority.
5. Who will help women prepare project reports?
Officials from the Velugu division of the SERP Department will assist women in preparing Detailed Project Reports.
Relevance: UPSC GS Paper II: International relations, regional groupings, India and Indo-Pacific
For Prelims:
- Quad, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, Indo-Pacific, Malabar Exercise, Maritime Domain Awareness, Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, Critical Minerals Framework, Pax Silica, Rare Earth Elements
For Mains:
- Free and open Indo-Pacific, maritime security, supply chain resilience, China factor, critical minerals security, minilateral diplomacy, strategic autonomy, rules-based order
Why in News?
The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on 26 May 2026.
The meeting was hosted by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. It was attended by:
- India: S. Jaishankar
- United States: Marco Rubio
- Japan: Toshimitsu Motegi
- Australia: Penny Wong
The ministers discussed maritime security, energy security, critical minerals, resilient supply chains and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
On the sidelines of the meeting, India and the United States signed a bilateral framework on cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths.
What is Quad?
Quad stands for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
It is a strategic grouping of four countries:
- India
- United States
- Japan
- Australia
The grouping focuses on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Its main aim is to support a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
Quad is not a formal military alliance. It is a flexible platform for consultation, coordination and cooperation.
Evolution of Quad
1. Beginning after 2004 Tsunami
- After the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, India, Japan, Australia and the United States worked together to coordinate disaster relief operations.
- This created the foundation for future cooperation among the four countries.
2. Political Shape in 2007
- In 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave political shape to the grouping through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
3. Loss of Momentum
- The grouping later lost momentum due to differences in strategic priorities and concerns that it was being seen as an anti-China bloc.
4. Revival in 2017
- In 2017, Quad was revived due to rising concerns over China’s growing military and maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific.
5. Expansion of Agenda
Initially, Quad focused mainly on maritime security. Later, its agenda expanded to areas such as:
- Health security
- Climate resilience
- Cybersecurity
- Critical technologies
- Semiconductors
- Critical minerals
- Energy security
- Supply chain resilience
How Quad is Different from NATO
Quad is different from traditional military alliances like NATO.
| Feature | Quad | NATO |
| Nature | Strategic dialogue platform | Military alliance |
| Members | India, US, Japan, Australia | Mainly US and European allies |
| Secretariat | No permanent secretariat | Formal structure |
| Collective Defence | No collective defence clause | Article 5 collective defence |
| Focus | Indo-Pacific cooperation | Defence of member states |
| Flexibility | High | Comparatively formal |
Quad works through dialogue, coordination, joint exercises and issue-based cooperation, not through binding military commitments.
Key Objectives of Quad
1. Maritime Security
Quad aims to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific. This is important because the region has major sea routes for trade and energy supplies.
2. Free and Open Indo-Pacific
The grouping supports a rules-based order where countries can trade, move and cooperate freely without coercion.
3. Critical Minerals Security
Critical minerals are essential for electric vehicles, semiconductors, batteries, defence equipment and clean energy technologies.
Quad aims to reduce dependence on a single country for critical mineral supply chains.
4. Supply Chain Resilience
The Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions exposed the risks of overdependence on limited supply chains. Quad countries are working to diversify supply sources.
5. Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance
Quad members have experience in disaster relief cooperation. This remains important for the Indo-Pacific, which is vulnerable to cyclones, tsunamis and climate-related disasters.
6. Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies
Quad also promotes cooperation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical technologies.
Major Outcomes of the New Delhi Meeting
1. Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative
- This initiative aims to improve maritime surveillance and information-sharing across the Indo-Pacific.
- It will help countries monitor illegal fishing, maritime threats, suspicious vessel movement and security risks.
2. Expansion of Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness
- The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative will be expanded to provide near-real-time commercial maritime data to countries in the region.
- This can help smaller countries improve maritime security without having advanced surveillance systems of their own.
3. Quad Ports of the Future Partnership
- The Quad announced the Ports of the Future Partnership to strengthen port infrastructure in the Pacific Islands.
- Under this initiative, the Quad will work with Fiji to improve its port infrastructure.
- This is strategically important because Pacific Island countries are becoming important in Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
4. Quad Critical Minerals Framework
- The Quad countries announced a Critical Minerals Framework to strengthen critical mineral supply chains and recycling.
- The framework aims to reduce supply chain risks caused by overdependence on China, which dominates the global processing capacity of many critical minerals.
5. India-US Critical Minerals Framework
- India and the United States signed a bilateral framework for cooperation in the mining, processing, recycling and investment related to critical minerals and rare earths.
- This agreement is important because critical minerals are essential for clean energy, defence, electronics and advanced technologies.
What are Critical Minerals?
Critical minerals are minerals that are economically important but face supply risks.
They are needed for:
- Electric vehicles
- Batteries
- Solar panels
- Wind turbines
- Semiconductors
- Defence systems
- Smartphones
- Artificial intelligence infrastructure
Examples include:
- Lithium
- Cobalt
- Nickel
- Graphite
- Rare Earth Elements
- Silicon-related inputs
- Titanium
- Tungsten
Significance for India
1. Strengthens India’s Indo-Pacific Role
- The meeting shows India’s growing role as a key power in the Indo-Pacific region.
2. Supports Maritime Security
- India has major interests in the Indian Ocean Region. Quad cooperation can help improve maritime surveillance, shipping security and freedom of navigation.
3. Reduces Critical Mineral Dependence
- India needs critical minerals for electric mobility, renewable energy, electronics and defence manufacturing. Quad cooperation can help diversify supply chains.
4. Supports India’s Manufacturing Goals
- Stable mineral supply chains are important for Make in India, semiconductor manufacturing, battery production and clean energy transition.
5. Balances China’s Influence
- Although Quad does not officially call itself an anti-China grouping, its focus on maritime security, critical minerals and Pacific infrastructure is linked to concerns over China’s growing influence.
6. Strengthens Strategic Partnerships
- The meeting deepens India’s cooperation with the US, Japan and Australia without joining a formal military alliance.
- This supports India’s policy of strategic autonomy with issue-based alignment.
Challenges
1. Different National Priorities
- All four Quad members have different strategic and economic interests. This can slow decision-making.
2. Economic Ties with China
- Quad members continue to have economic relations with China. This creates a balancing challenge.
3. No Formal Institutional Structure
- Quad does not have a permanent secretariat or binding mechanism. This gives flexibility but may reduce implementation capacity.
4. Perception of Anti-China Bloc
- China views Quad with suspicion and argues that cooperation between countries should not target any third party.
5. Implementation Gap
- Announcements on infrastructure, supply chains and technology must be converted into actual projects.
6. Resource Mobilisation
- Critical minerals and port infrastructure projects require large investments, technology and long-term coordination.
Way Forward
- Quad should continue to focus on practical cooperation rather than becoming a formal military alliance.
- It should strengthen maritime domain awareness, disaster relief, cyber security and resilient supply chains.
- India should use Quad cooperation to secure critical minerals, improve maritime capacity and support domestic manufacturing.
- Quad must also work with ASEAN, Pacific Island countries and Indian Ocean countries to avoid the perception of exclusion.
- A balanced approach is needed where Quad supports a rules-based Indo-Pacific while respecting India’s strategic autonomy.
Conclusion
The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi reflects the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific in global politics. The focus on maritime security, critical minerals, port infrastructure and supply chain resilience shows that Quad is moving beyond security dialogue towards practical strategic cooperation.
For India, Quad provides an important platform to strengthen its maritime role, secure critical resources and deepen partnerships with major democracies while maintaining strategic autonomy.
UPSC PYQ
Q. Which of the following statements about Quad is/are correct? (CAPF 2023)
- It is a group of four countries, namely, India, Australia, USA and France.
- Maritime cooperation is an important binding force among members of the Quad.
- The Quad members formed a working group on COVID-19 vaccines.
Options
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect:
- The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, consists of India, Australia, Japan and the United States. France is not a member of Quad.
Statement 2 is correct:
- Maritime cooperation is one of the most important areas of Quad cooperation. The Quad focuses on a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, maritime security, freedom of navigation and maritime domain awareness.
Statement 3 is correct:
- The Quad members formed a working group on COVID-19 vaccines. This was part of the Quad Vaccine Partnership, which aimed to improve vaccine production and distribution, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to the Quad, consider the following statements:
- Quad consists of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
- Quad was first shaped politically by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
- Quad has a collective defence clause similar to NATO.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Quad includes India, the US, Japan and Australia.
- Statement 2 is correct: Shinzo Abe gave political shape to the Quad in 2007.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: Quad does not have a collective defence clause like NATO.
Additional Information:
Quad is a flexible strategic grouping. It has no permanent secretariat or binding military commitment.
Q. Consider the following initiatives announced or discussed in the context of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting:
- Quad Ports of the Future Partnership
- Quad Critical Minerals Framework
- Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative
- Article 5 Collective Defence Mechanism
Which of the above are associated with Quad cooperation?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Items 1, 2 and 3 are correct: These are linked with Quad cooperation in port infrastructure, critical minerals and maritime domain awareness.
- Item 4 is incorrect: Article 5 collective defence is associated with NATO, not Quad.
Additional Information:
Quad is not a military alliance. It focuses on coordination in areas such as maritime security, technology, critical minerals and supply chains.
FAQs
1. What is Quad?
Quad is a strategic grouping of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
2. Is Quad a military alliance?
No. Quad is not a military alliance like NATO. It has no collective defence clause.
3. Why is Quad important?
It is important for maritime security, Indo-Pacific cooperation, critical minerals, supply chain resilience and strategic coordination.
4. What was discussed in the New Delhi meeting?
The meeting discussed maritime security, energy security, critical minerals, port infrastructure and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
5. What is the Quad Critical Minerals Framework?
It is a framework to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, recycling and cooperation among Quad countries.
Relevance: GS Paper I – Indian Culture, Art and Personalities
For Prelims:
- Padma Awards, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Bharat Ratna, Article 18, Balaji Raghavan Case, People’s Padma, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Civil Investiture Ceremony.
For Mains:
- Recognition of Public Service, Grassroots Excellence, Constitutional Morality, National Honours,A People’s Padma, Democratic Recognition, Cultural Diversity.
Why in News?
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the Padma Awards 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards were presented in the categories of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
For 2026, the President approved 131 Padma Awards, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. The list includes 19 women awardees, 6 Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI awardees and 16 posthumous awardees.
What are Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian awards of India. They are conferred in three categories:
| Award | Meaning |
| Padma Vibhushan | For exceptional and distinguished service |
| Padma Bhushan | For distinguished service of high order |
| Padma Shri | For distinguished service in any field |
The awards are given in several fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
Constitutional Position and Supreme Court View
- Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution prohibits the State from conferring titles.
- The exception is allowed only for:
- Military distinctions
- Academic distinctions
- A question arose whether Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards violate Article 18.
- In Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court held that national awards are not titles.
- The Court clarified that these awards are only recognitions of merit and public service.
- Awardees cannot use Bharat Ratna or Padma Awards as a prefix or suffix to their names.
- Therefore, Padma Awards do not violate Article 18 as long as they are not used like personal titles.
- Thus, Padma Awards are national honours, not constitutional titles.
Evolution into “People’s Padma”
The Padma Awards have increasingly been projected as “People’s Padma”, giving recognition to unsung heroes, grassroots workers, traditional artists, social reformers, doctors, teachers, farmers, environmental workers and community leaders.
All persons are eligible without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex. However, serving government employees, including those in PSUs, are generally not eligible, except doctors and scientists.
Padma Awards 2026
Padma Vibhushan 2026
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
| 1 | Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 2 | Shri K T Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 3 | Ms. N Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | Shri P Narayanan | Literature and Education | Kerala |
| 5 | Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
Padma Bhushan 2026
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
| 6 | Ms. Alka Yagnik | Art | Maharashtra |
| 7 | Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari | Public Affairs | Uttarakhand |
| 8 | Shri Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 9 | Shri Mammootty | Art | Kerala |
| 10 | Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu | Medicine | United States of America |
| 11 | Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 12 | Shri S K M Maeilanandhan | Social Work | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | Shri Shatavadhani R Ganesh | Art | Karnataka |
| 14 | Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Jharkhand |
| 15 | Shri Uday Kotak | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| 16 | Shri V K Malhotra (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Delhi |
| 17 | Shri Vellappally Natesan | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| 18 | Shri Vijay Amritraj | Sports | United States of America |
Padma Shri 2026
| SN | Name | Field | State / Country |
| 19 | Shri A E Muthunayagam | Science and Engineering | Kerala |
| 20 | Shri Anil Kumar Rastogi | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 21 | Shri Anke Gowda M. | Social Work | Karnataka |
| 22 | Ms. Armida Fernandez | Medicine | Maharashtra |
| 23 | Shri Arvind Vaidya | Art | Gujarat |
| 24 | Shri Ashok Khade | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| 25 | Shri Ashok Kumar Singh | Science and Engineering | Uttar Pradesh |
| 26 | Shri Asok Kumar Haldar | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 27 | Shri Baldev Singh | Sports | Punjab |
| 28 | Shri Bhagwandas Raikwar | Sports | Madhya Pradesh |
| 29 | Shri Bharat Singh Bharti | Art | Bihar |
| 30 | Shri Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda | Art | Maharashtra |
| 31 | Shri Bishwa Bandhu (Posthumous) | Art | Bihar |
| 32 | Shri Brij Lal Bhat | Social Work | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 33 | Shri Buddha Rashmi Mani | Others – Archaeology | Uttar Pradesh |
| 34 | Dr. Budhri Tati | Social Work | Chhattisgarh |
| 35 | Shri Chandramouli Gaddamanugu | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
| 36 | Shri Charan Hembram | Literature and Education | Odisha |
| 37 | Shri Chiranji Lal Yadav | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| 38 | Ms. Deepika Reddy | Art | Telangana |
| 39 | Shri Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya | Art | Gujarat |
| 40 | Shri Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad | Art | Andhra Pradesh |
| 41 | Shri Gafruddin Mewati Jogi | Art | Rajasthan |
| 42 | Shri Gambir Singh Yonzone | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 43 | Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous) | Art | Andhra Pradesh |
| 44 | Ms. Gayatri Balasubramanian and Ms. Ranjani Balasubramanian (Duo)* | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 45 | Shri Gopal Ji Trivedi | Science and Engineering | Bihar |
| 46 | Shri Guduru Venkat Rao | Medicine | Telangana |
| 47 | Shri H V Hande | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 48 | Shri Hally War | Social Work | Meghalaya |
| 49 | Shri Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (Posthumous) | Art | West Bengal |
| 50 | Shri Haricharan Saikia | Art | Assam |
| 51 | Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar | Sports | Punjab |
| 52 | Shri Inderjit Singh Sidhu | Social Work | Chandigarh |
| 53 | Shri Janardan Bapurao Bothe | Social Work | Maharashtra |
| 54 | Shri Jogesh Deuri | Others – Agriculture | Assam |
| 55 | Shri Juzer Vasi | Science and Engineering | Maharashtra |
| 56 | Shri Jyotish Debnath | Art | West Bengal |
| 57 | Shri K Pajanivel | Sports | Puducherry |
| 58 | Shri K Ramasamy | Science and Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 59 | Shri K Vijay Kumar | Civil Service | Tamil Nadu |
| 60 | Shri Kabindra Purkayastha (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Assam |
| 61 | Shri Kailash Chandra Pant | Literature and Education | Madhya Pradesh |
| 62 | Ms. Kalamandalam Vimala Menon | Art | Kerala |
| 63 | Shri Kewal Krishan Thakral | Medicine | Uttar Pradesh |
| 64 | Shri Khem Raj Sundriyal | Art | Haryana |
| 65 | Ms. Kollakal Devaki Amma G | Social Work | Kerala |
| 66 | Shri Krishnamurty Balasubramanian | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
| 67 | Shri Kumar Bose | Art | West Bengal |
| 68 | Shri Kumarasamy Thangaraj | Science and Engineering | Telangana |
| 69 | Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch | Art | Germany |
| 70 | Ms. Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova | Literature and Education | Russia |
| 71 | Shri Madhavan Ranganathan | Art | Maharashtra |
| 72 | Shri Maganti Murali Mohan | Art | Andhra Pradesh |
| 73 | Shri Mahendra Kumar Mishra | Literature and Education | Odisha |
| 74 | Shri Mahendra Nath Roy | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 75 | Shri Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar | Literature and Education | Delhi |
| 76 | Ms. Mangala Kapoor | Literature and Education | Uttar Pradesh |
| 77 | Shri Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai | Art | Gujarat |
| 78 | Shri Mohan Nagar | Social Work | Madhya Pradesh |
| 79 | Shri Narayan Vyas | Others – Archaeology | Madhya Pradesh |
| 80 | Shri Naresh Chandra Dev Varma | Literature and Education | Tripura |
| 81 | Shri Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala | Social Work | Gujarat |
| 82 | Shri Nuruddin Ahmed | Art | Assam |
| 83 | Shri Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 84 | Dr. Padma Gurmet | Medicine | Ladakh |
| 85 | Shri Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy | Medicine | Telangana |
| 86 | Ms. Pokhila Lekthepi | Art | Assam |
| 87 | Dr. Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore | Literature and Education | Karnataka |
| 88 | Shri Prateek Sharma | Medicine | United States of America |
| 89 | Shri Praveen Kumar | Sports | Uttar Pradesh |
| 90 | Shri Prem Lal Gautam | Science and Engineering | Himachal Pradesh |
| 91 | Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee | Art | West Bengal |
| 92 | Dr. Punniamurthy Natesan | Medicine | Tamil Nadu |
| 93 | Shri R Krishnan (Posthumous) | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 94 | Shri R V S Mani | Civil Service | Delhi |
| 95 | Shri Rabilal Tudu | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 96 | Shri Raghupat Singh (Posthumous) | Others – Agriculture | Uttar Pradesh |
| 97 | Shri Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar | Art | Maharashtra |
| 98 | Shri Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 99 | Shri Rajendra Prasad | Medicine | Uttar Pradesh |
| 100 | Shri Rama Reddy Mamidi (Posthumous) | Others – Animal Husbandry | Telangana |
| 101 | Shri Ramamurthy Sreedher | Others – Radio Broadcasting | Delhi |
| 102 | Shri Ramchandra Godbole and Ms. Suneeta Godbole (Duo)* | Medicine | Chhattisgarh |
| 103 | Shri Ratilal Borisagar | Literature and Education | Gujarat |
| 104 | Shri Rohit Sharma | Sports | Maharashtra |
| 105 | Ms. S G Susheelamma | Social Work | Karnataka |
| 106 | Shri Sangyusang S Pongener | Art | Nagaland |
| 107 | Sant Niranjan Dass | Others – Spiritualism | Punjab |
| 108 | Shri Sarat Kumar Patra | Art | Odisha |
| 109 | Shri Saroj Mandal | Medicine | West Bengal |
| 110 | Shri Satish Shah (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| 111 | Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| 112 | Ms. Savita Punia | Sports | Haryana |
| 113 | Prof. Shafi Shauq | Literature and Education | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 114 | Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati | Literature and Education | Karnataka |
| 115 | Shri Shrirang Devaba Lad | Others – Agriculture | Maharashtra |
| 116 | Ms. Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar | Science and Engineering | Karnataka |
| 117 | Shri Shyam Sundar | Medicine | Uttar Pradesh |
| 118 | Shri Simanchal Patro | Art | Odisha |
| 119 | Ms. Sivasankari | Literature and Education | Tamil Nadu |
| 120 | Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi | Medicine | Karnataka |
| 121 | Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj | Social Work | Rajasthan |
| 122 | Shri T T Jagannathan (Posthumous) | Trade and Industry | Karnataka |
| 123 | Shri Taga Ram Bheel | Art | Rajasthan |
| 124 | Shri Tarun Bhattacharya | Art | West Bengal |
| 125 | Shri Techi Gubin | Social Work | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 126 | Shri Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 127 | Ms. Tripti Mukherjee | Art | West Bengal |
| 128 | Shri Veezhinathan Kamakoti | Science and Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 129 | Shri Vempaty Kutumba Sastry | Literature and Education | Andhra Pradesh |
| 130 | Shri Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Posthumous) | Sports | Georgia |
| 131 | Shri Yumnam Jatra Singh (Posthumous) | Art | Manipur |
Note: In a duo case, the award is counted as one. The above list follows the official PIB/MHA list of Padma Awards 2026.
Foreign Awardees Georgia
Germany
Russia
United States of America
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Conclusion
The Padma Awards 2026 reflect India’s recognition of excellence, public service and cultural diversity. The list includes achievers from art, public affairs, medicine, literature, science, sports, social work and other fields.
These awards are important not only as honours but also as examples of national service. Their value depends on fairness, transparency and recognition of both famous personalities and unsung heroes.
UPSC PYQ
Q. Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards: [IAS 2021]
- Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
- Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
- The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation
- Statement 1 is incorrect:
Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are not titles under Article 18(1). In Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court held that these awards are national honours, not titles. They cannot be used as prefixes or suffixes to the recipient’s name. - Statement 2 is incorrect:
Padma Awards were instituted in 1954, but they were suspended more than once. They were suspended during 1977–1980 and again during 1992–1995 due to constitutional litigation. - Statement 3 is incorrect:
The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is normally restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year, not five.
Additional Information
Article 18 abolishes titles to protect constitutional equality. However, national awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri are allowed as recognitions of merit and public service, provided they are not used as personal titles.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to the Padma Awards, consider the following statements:
- Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
- Padma Bhushan is awarded for distinguished service of high order.
- Padma Shri is awarded for distinguished service in any field.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service.
- Statement 2 is correct: Padma Bhushan is given for distinguished service of high order.
- Statement 3 is correct: Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field.
FAQs
1. What are Padma Awards?
Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian awards given for distinguished service in various fields.
2. What are the three categories of Padma Awards?
The three categories are Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
3. Which is the highest among the Padma Awards?
Padma Vibhushan is the highest among the Padma Awards and is India’s second-highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna.
4. How many Padma Awards were approved for 2026?
A total of 131 Padma Awards were approved for 2026.
5. How many Padma Vibhushan awards were announced in 2026?
There were 5 Padma Vibhushan awards.
6. How many Padma Bhushan awards were announced in 2026?
There were 13 Padma Bhushan awards.
7. How many Padma Shri awards were announced in 2026?
There were 113 Padma Shri awards.
8. Can Padma Awards be used as titles?
No. Padma Awards cannot be used as prefixes or suffixes to the awardee’s name.
9. Who confers the Padma Awards?
The President of India confers the Padma Awards.
10. What is People’s Padma?
People’s Padma refers to the effort to recognise unsung heroes and grassroots contributors from different parts of India.
