AGARTALA: The Northeast India will receive ten Padma Shri awards in 2026, with six states from the region represented in the Ministry of Home Affairs announcement dated January 25, 2026. Assam claims the lion’s share with four awards, followed by one each for Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura, reflecting the region’s rich cultural heritage and commitment to public service.
The northeastern representation includes Assam’s Nuruddin Ahmed, a 63-year-old sculptor from Nalbari district who has created over 1,000 Durga idols and designed the 98-feet bamboo idol that entered the Limca Book of Records, and late BJP veteran Kabindra Purkayastha who will be honored posthumously after serving as Union Minister of State for Communications during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1998 to 1999.
According to the official press note, Assam’s four recipients include Haricharan Saikia in the art category, Nuruddin Ahmed in art, Jogesh Deuri in agriculture, Pokhila Lekthepi in art, and Kabindra Purkayastha in public affairs.
Nuruddin Ahmed, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, recently gained widespread recognition for his work on the Batadrava Cultural Project. It is learned that Ahmed has dedicated his life to preserving traditional Assamese sculpture and clay modeling, creating monumental works that celebrate the state’s cultural identity.
Meanwhile, Jogesh Deuri, who retired as Director of Sericulture in the Bodoland Territorial Region, received Assam’s prestigious Asom Gaurav award in 2023 for his contributions to agricultural development, particularly in the field of sericulture. His work has significantly impacted the livelihoods of thousands of farmers across the state.
Pokhila Lekthepi, a renowned Karbi folk singer from Assam, becomes one of the few artists from the Karbi community to receive national recognition. She previously won the Cultures of Resistance Award and Assam’s Silpi Award in 2023 for her dedication to preserving and promoting Karbi traditional music and cultural heritage.
However, the most poignant recognition goes to Kabindra Purkayastha, who passed away at the age of 94 on January 7, 2026. Described by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the patriarch of BJP in the region, Purkayastha played a foundational role in establishing the party’s presence in Northeast India. He served as Union Minister of State for Communications during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1998 to 1999 and remained an influential figure in the region’s political landscape throughout his life.
From Arunachal Pradesh, Techi Gubin, the 62-year-old president of Arunachal Vikas Parishad, receives the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to social work.
It is learned that Gubin retired as the chief architect of Arunachal Pradesh in 2024 and had also served as the director of housing in the state government. He hails from Kebi village in Shi-Yomi district and is also the national vice president of RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. According to reports, he ensured the survival of indigenous cultures of the Neshi people and led people to hoist the Tricolour in 90 border villages.
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From Meghalaya, Hally War receives the Padma Shri for social work. War, the village headman of Siej in the East Khasi Hills, is celebrated for creating the famous living root bridge in his village at the age of 10, a feat that has since become a symbol of sustainable environmental practices and indigenous knowledge systems.
Nagaland‘s Sangyusang S Pongener will be honored in the art category. Pongener, a folklorist and cultural guru from the Ao tribe, has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Naga traditional arts, music and cultural practices, ensuring that younger generations remain connected to their heritage.
Manipur’s contribution comes through Yumnam Jatra Singh, who will receive the award posthumously in the art category. Singh’s work in preserving and promoting Manipuri traditional arts has left an indelible mark on the state’s cultural landscape.
Tripura‘s Naresh Chandra Dev Varma has been selected in the literature and education category for his contributions to promoting literacy and literary development in the northeastern state.
The awards will be conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions to be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan around March or April 2026. Moreover, out of the 131 total Padma Awards announced this year, 19 recipients are women and 16 are posthumous awardees.