The Padma Shri 2026 list recognised a substantial group of writers, scholars and educationists, one of the larger categories on this year's roll of honour.
Recognised in the field of literature and education, the group includes figures who have shaped academic institutions, enriched regional literatures and carried Indian scholarship abroad.
This category captures the quieter forms of national contribution, the work of teaching, writing and preserving knowledge.
The literature and education honourees
Among the more widely known names, Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar of Delhi, a senior figure in higher education administration, and Shashi Shekhar Vempati of Karnataka, known for his work in public broadcasting and digital media, feature on the list.
