News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (January 31, 2026 - February 6, 2026) February 6, 2026 6 Community India’s Prestigious Padma Awards In 2026 Include Only 3 Individuals From The United States T wo Indian Americans were among the 13 individuals to receive the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India. The results were announced on Jan. 25, 2026, as is traditionally done on the eve of Republic Day of India. Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu, in the field of Medicine for his phenomenal work in the field of cancer treatment; and Vijay Amritraj for his work in the field of Sports, specifically relating to tennis, were among the recipients from the US. In the category of Padma Shri Awards, of which there were a total of 113, only one individual from the United States received it – Dr. Prateek Sharma in Medicine. Dr. Sharma is a gastroen- terologist and academic known for his work on esophageal diseases. He is the President of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. For the Padma Vibhushan category in which only 5 awards are given out, Bollywood star Dharmendra (Dharmen- dra Singh Deol) who died recently, was among the recipients. According to the announcement, Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are con- ferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medi- cine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distin- guished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial func- tions which are held at Rashtrapati Bha- wan usually around March / April every year. For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 6 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI and 16 Posthumous awardees. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:UN Photo PHOTO:Linkedin @vijay_amritraj PHOTO:@asge.org Praise poured in for Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu, leading cancer specialist, for his Padma Bhushan award in 2026, announced Jan. 25, 2026. A young Vijay Amritraj. Dr. Prateek Sharma Foundation Of Indian Americans Celebrates 77th Republic Day Of India In Burlington, MA T he Foundation of Indian Americans (FIA)-New England, celebrated the 77th Republic Day of India at the Academy of Creative Arts in Burlington, Massachu- setts, on the eve of the official Republica Day which falls annually on January 26. The event honored India’s freedom fighters and the architects of the Constitution of the Re- public of India who laid the foundation of the na- tion, a press release from FIA-New England said. Addressing the gathering, FIA–New England President Abhishek Singh highlighted the signifi- cance of the occasion and the responsibility it carries for future generations. “Republic Day marks the moment when India adopted its Constitution, empowering every citizen with freedom, equality, and justice. We must follow the path shown by our forefathers and protect the unity and integrity of our community,” Singh said. As part of the ceremony, attendees observed a mo- ment of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggles of both India and the United States. The audience also sang the national anthems of both countries. FIA Executive Vice President Sanjay Gokhale appealed to the community to take a pledge to work toward a world free from hunger, poverty, and inequality, strengthening bonds between communities while promoting peace and inclusion. During the event, dignitaries and some at- tendees shared their thoughts on the significance of Republic Day. Community leaders Rakesh and Aditi Soni emphasized the strong parallels be- tween the history of India and the United States. Both nations fought against colonialism and embraced democracy, secularism, and a constitu- tional republic framework, they noted. Entrepreneur Devendra Patil noted that as the United States approaches its milestone of 250 years of independence in 2026, India continues advancing in its own journey of development, stability, and progress. Mohan Nannapaneni (Founder, Team Aid), Java and Hetal Joshi (Promoters of education and creative arts), and Jayesh Patel (Entrepreneur) highlighted constitutional values such as freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, protec- tion against exploitation, and the right to constitu- tional remedies, reaffirming commitment to these principles in both India and the United States. FIA Executive Board Members Shova Sharma and Anand Sharma thanked all dignitaries and support- ers, including Ravindra Zende, Vijay Agarwal (Business- man), Anil and Ranjani Saigal (Founders of Lokvani), Manisha Jain (Ekal Vidyalaya), and Manisha Kumar (Ekal Vidyalaya) for their guidance and continued support. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:RASIK MEHTA,COURTESY FIA-NE Scene from the celebrations held in Burlington, Massachusetts, on the eve of India’s 77th Republic Day, hosted by the Foundation of Indian Americans-New England.