Government Announces 2026 Padma Awards: Archaeology Veterans Dr. B.R Mani and Dr. Narayan Vyas Honoured

Inarch Center
3 days ago
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New Delhi: The Government of India has announced the Padma Awards for the year 2026, approving the conferment of 131 awards on the eve of 77th Republic Day. The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Among the distinguished recipients are two legendary figures in the field of Indian archaeology: Dr. Buddha Rashmi Mani from Uttar Pradesh and Dr. Narayan Vyas from Madhya Pradesh, both honoured with the Padma Shri.

This year’s list includes 19 women, 6 persons from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, and 16 posthumous awardees. The recognition of Dr. Mani and Dr. Vyas highlights the government's continued focus on preserving India's ancient heritage and historical research.

Dr. B.R. Mani (Padma Shri)

Born 17 April 1955 (Gunhill, Mussoorie) is a renowned field archaeologist, numismatist, and art

critic with over 41 years of experience in administration and research. Dr. Mani’s academic

foundation is deeply rooted in Varanasi. He earned his Bachelors in 1974, Master with Gold

Medals in 1976, and Ph.D. in 1980 with a thesis on "Life in the Kushan Age" from Banaras

Hindu University.

He began his career as a teacher at BHU (1978–1984) before joining the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1984, where he rose to the rank of Additional Director General. Later, after superannuating from ASI in 2015, he served as Director General of the National Museum and Vice-Chancellor of the National Museum Institute (now Indian Institute of Heritage). During his service, Dr. Mani directed excavations at several archaeological sites. He established himself as an authority on Buddhism through his association with significant sites such as Kanishpur, Ambaran, Sarnath, and Sankissa, and made pivotal contributions to Protohistory by revealing some of the earliest dates of the 6th millennium BCE from the excavations at Kunal.

Beyond his research, he monitored the development of 44 ASI site museums and conserved many monuments in various parts of the country and abroad. After over four decades of service, he retired in April 2025. Today, he remains a "wanderer of the academy," sharing his profound insights as Visiting Faculty at prestigious universities. His greatest monument, however, is not built of stone, but of thought etched into the lives of the many professionals, Ph.D. scholars, Masters, and Bachelor’s students he guided, who now carry his torch into the next era.

Major Archaeological Contributions:

Ayodhya Excavations: In 2003, Dr. Mani directed the excavations at the disputed site of Ayodhya. His detailed report to the Lucknow High Court became significant evidence in solving the court case, ultimately utilized by the Supreme Court of India in its 2019 verdict.
Delhi Excavations: He directed excavations at Lal Kot (Mehrauli) and Salimgarh Fort between 1991 and 1995, discovering significant evidence regarding the earliest remains of the Delhi Sultanate and Tomar settlements.
Kashmir and Ladakh: He directed excavations at Kanispur (Baramulla), uncovering the earliest Neolithic settlement in Kashmir, and Ambaran (Jammu), where he discovered a stupa containing Buddhist relics. He also explored prehistoric sites with petroglyphs in Ladakh.
Discoveries: During his fieldwork, he discovered a significant Gupta period image of Hariti at Sarnath, which contained the first inscription of Srigupta, the founder of the Gupta dynasty.

Academic and Museum Work: A Gold Medalist from Banaras Hindu University with a Ph.D. titled "Life in the Kushan Age”, Dr. Mani has guided numerous Ph.D. scholars and taught at the Institute of Archaeology for nearly three decades. As a museum administrator, he implemented 14-point Museum Reforms across 44 ASI site museums and established freedom fighter museums within the Red Fort. He has authored multiple books, including The Kushan Civilization and Sarnath – Archaeology, Art and Architecture.

Dr. Narayan Vyas (Padma Shri)

Born 05 January 1949 is a senior archaeologist whose career has been defined by a lifelong dedication to the preservation of India's cultural heritage, particularly in the Malwa region. A native of Ujjain, Dr. Vyas initially shifted from the field of Fine Arts to archaeology.

Key Contributions and Career:

Service: He is a retired Superintendent Archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), where he served for four decades until his retirement in 2009.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Dr. Vyas played an instrumental role in the efforts that led to the recognition of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the famous rock shelters of Bhimbetka, the Rani ki Vav stepwell, and the stupas of Sanchi.

Academic Focus: He earned a post-doctorate (D.Litt.) with a specific focus on rock paintings in the Bhopal and Raisen areas, emphasizing Bhimbetka. Fieldwork and Excavations: Dr. Vyas collaborated closely with the legendary archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar. He participated in groundbreaking discoveries and excavations at sites such as Dangwada, Ujjain, and Bhimbetka.

Impact and Legacy: His work has been pivotal in highlighting and protecting historical sites across Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, his research brought renewed attention to prehistoric settlements and ancient rock art, inspiring public conservation initiatives. Despite his retirement, Dr. Vyas remains active in his field. Upon receiving the news, he stated, "I am still working on these cave paintings".

Distribution of 2026 Padma Awards by Category

Award Category	Total Count	Notable Recipients and Fields
Padma Vibhushan	5	N. Rajam (Art), K.T. Thomas (Public Affairs), P. Narayanan (Education)
Padma Bhushan	13	Various leaders in Medicine, Public Affairs, and Trade
Padma Shri	113	Dr. B.R. Mani (Archaeology), Rohit Sharma (Sports), Alka Yagnik (Art)
Total	131	Diverse representation including 19 women and 16 posthumous awards

A Celebration of Heritage:

The conferment of the Padma Shri upon Dr. B.R. Mani and Dr. Narayan Vyas is a profound acknowledgement of their lifelong dedication to unearthing, interpreting, and preserving India’s ancient past. Their work ranging from the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka to the historic layers of Ayodhya and Delhi, has not only enriched academic scholarship but has also deepened the nation's understanding of its civilizational roots. We extend our heartiest congratulations to these two legends; this honour serves as an inspiring reminder to future generations that safeguarding our heritage is a service of the highest order to the nation.

This news is brought to you by Malladi Divya, who holds Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, ASI and M.A. in Archaeology and Heritage Management.

Editors: Sachin Singh Jadoun (AS, PRI), and Dr. Priyank Gupta (AA, ASI)

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