Padma Awards 2026: 11 from Telugu States get national recognition

Hyderabad: On the occasion of Republic Day, the Union Government announced the Padma Awards 2026, recognising 45 distinguished individuals across the country for their exceptional contributions in various fields.

Renowned cancer specialist Nori Dattatreya has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan.

A total of 11 awardees from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana feature in the prestigious list.

Film actor Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad- (Art- Andhra Pradesh)

Film actor and former MP Maganti Murali Mohan - (Art-Andhra Pradesh)

Krishnamurthy Bala Subrahmanian - (Science and Engineering-Telangana)

Gaddamanugu Chandramouli- (Science and Engineering-Telangana)

Guduru Venkata Rao- (Medicine-Telangana)

Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy- (Medicine-Telangana)

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad- Posthumous (Art-Andhra Pradesh)

Vempati Kutumba Sastry- (Literature and Education) (Andhra Pradesh)

Deepika Reddy- (Art- Telangana)

From Telangana, Ram Reddy Mamidi (Posthumous) and Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj have been conferred the Padma Shri, highlighting the state’s impact in rural development and scientific research.

Padma Sri for Ram Reddy Mamidi for Dairy and Livestock Development

Ram Reddy Mamidi, a pioneer in livestock rearing and the dairy sector, has been honoured for his outstanding grassroots work in strengthening cooperative-based growth.

As the founder of Saha Vikas, Ram Reddy Mamidi played a crucial role in establishing and nurturing dairy and livestock cooperatives, significantly improving livelihoods in rural areas.

He trained farmers in animal husbandry, dairy management and financial administration, enabling sustainable income generation.

A strong advocate of women-led cooperatives, he consistently promoted inclusive growth and empowerment, earning recognition as a visionary who transformed the cooperative movement in the dairy sector.

CCMB Scientist Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj awarded Padma Sri

Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj, a senior scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his seminal contributions to population genetics.

With over three decades of research, Dr Thangaraj has made path-breaking contributions to understanding the genetic history of the Indian population. His work on early human migrations from Africa has earned international acclaim.

Through extensive genetic studies, he provided key insights into human evolution and population diversity, placing Indian research firmly on the global scientific map.

National recognition for Telangana’s excellence

The Padma Sri awards to Ram Reddy Mamidi and Dr Kumaraswamy Thangaraj underscore Telangana’s diverse contributions. The achievements include empowering rural communities through cooperatives to advancing global scientific knowledge, reflecting the spirit of service and innovation celebrated on Republic Day.