New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred Padma awards on several distinguished personalities during the second phase of the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony, held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among the recipients were three prominent personalities from Punjab — Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh and Dera Sachkhand Ballan head Sant Niranjan Das.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who hails from Dunneke village in Punjab’s Moga district, was honoured with the Padma Shri for her outstanding contribution to Indian women’s cricket. The award was announced by the Government of India on January 25.
Under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India created history by winning its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title on November 2, 2025. Coming from a modest family background, Harmanpreet began playing cricket at a young age and trained alongside boys at the Guru Nanak College ground under the guidance and support of her father, Harminder Singh Bhullar.
Despite social challenges, she continued pursuing the sport and made her international debut in 2009 before earning her Test cap in 2014. Harmanpreet had earlier received the Arjuna Award in 2017. Her latest honour is being seen as recognition of her contribution to Indian cricket and an inspiration for aspiring female athletes across the country.
Veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh was also conferred the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian hockey. Widely respected in sporting circles, he has played a significant role in nurturing talent and strengthening the country’s hockey ecosystem over the years.
Meanwhile, Sant Niranjan Das, head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar, received the Padma Shri in recognition of his social and spiritual contributions. The honour has been welcomed by members of the Ravidassia community and is being viewed as a significant acknowledgment of the dera’s role in social welfare and community development.
Political observers have also linked the recognition to the growing importance of the Ravidassia community in Punjab, particularly in the Doaba region, where Scheduled Castes constitute a substantial share of the population. The award comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan during Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations, a move that drew considerable political attention in the state.
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are conferred annually to recognise exceptional achievements and service in various fields, including public affairs, arts, literature, education, sports, medicine and social work.
