On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced awards for 56 individuals and institutions, recognizing their outstanding contributions across various fields. The awards acknowledge excellence in bravery, literature, arts, public service, sports, media, social reforms, and industrial entrepreneurship. The awards will be conferred in a formal ceremony on Republic Day and include a cash prize and a citation.
Among the awardees is Adil Hussain Shah, who was a victim of the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22, 2025. Shah, a resident of Hapatnar, Pahalgam, lost his life while bravely attempting to save tourists during the attack in the Baisaran Valley. He will be posthumously honored with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a citation for his act of bravery. The attack, perpetrated by at least three armed terrorists, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians and left 20 injured. The attack targeted Hindu tourists but also claimed the lives of a Christian tourist and a local Muslim pony ride operator.
In the bravery category, Police Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kumar from Gangyal Police Station will also be recognized and will receive a cash prize of ₹51,000 along with a citation.
Awards have also been announced for contributions to literature. The recipients include Yashpaul Nirmal (Dogri), Ch Hassan Parwaz (Gojri), Parwaiz Manoos (Pahari), Fayaz Dilbar (posthumously), Kewal Krishan Sharma, and Rattan Lal Sharma. Each award in this category includes a cash prize of ₹51,000 and a citation.
The Jammu and Kashmir government is also recognizing contributions to the media. Awardees in this category include Avtar Krishan Bhat, Vivek Suri, Somil Abrol, Dinesh Manhotra, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Inayat Jahangir, Razia Noor, Sunil Ji Bhat, Ishfaq Gowhar Zargar, Syed Khalid Hussain, Sarosh Kafeel, and Neeta Sharma. These individuals are being honored for their contributions to journalism and media within the Union Territory.
Mohammad Niyaz-ul-Kabir, Sheikh Yameen, and Sunil Singh will receive awards for outstanding industrial entrepreneurship, recognizing their contribution to enterprise development.
In addition to the J&K Government Awards, Brij Lal Bhat and Prof Shafi Shauq from Jammu and Kashmir, along with Dr. Padma Gurmet from Ladakh, have been selected for the Padma Shri Award for 2026. These awards will be conferred by the President of India at a ceremonial function.
The J&K government's awards aim to recognize dedication and service to society across various sectors within Jammu and Kashmir.
