New Delhi, The nominations and recommendations for the Padma awards to be announced on Republic Day 2027 for people’s exceptional achievements and service began on Sunday.. Govt starts receiving Padma award nominations for Republic Day 2027. The last date for filing the nominations is July 31, 2026, a government statement said.. “The nominations and recommendations for Padma Awards will only be received online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal https://awards.gov.in,” it said.. The Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country.. The awards are being announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year since their institution in 1954, to recognise “work of distinction”, it said.. These awards are given for distinguished and exceptional achievements and service in all fields and disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc, the government said.. “All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for Padma Awards,” it said.. The statement said the government is “committed” to transform Padma Awards into “people’s Padma”.. “All citizens are, therefore, requested to make nominations/recommendations, including self-nomination. Concerted efforts may be made to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognised from amongst women, weaker sections of the society, SCs and STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to the society,” it said.. The nominations and recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the portal, clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements and service of the person recommended in her and his respective field and discipline, it said.. “Details in this regard are also available under the heading ‘Awards and Medals’ on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs and on the Padma Awards Portal ,” it said.. The statutes and rules relating to these awards are also available on the website, the statement added.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 New Delhi, The nominations and recommendations for the Padma awards to be announced on Republic Day 2027 for people’s exceptional achievements and service began on Sunday.. Govt starts receiving Padma award nominations for Republic Day 2027. The last date for filing the nominations is July 31, 2026, a government statement said.. “The nominations and recommendations for Padma Awards will only be received online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal https://awards.gov.in,” it said.. The Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country.. The awards are being announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year since their institution in 1954, to recognise “work of distinction”, it said.. These awards are given for distinguished and exceptional achievements and service in all fields and disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc, the government said.. “All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for Padma Awards,” it said.. The statement said the government is “committed” to transform Padma Awards into “people’s Padma”.. “All citizens are, therefore, requested to make nominations/recommendations, including self-nomination. Concerted efforts may be made to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognised from amongst women, weaker sections of the society, SCs and STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to the society,” it said.. The nominations and recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the portal, clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements and service of the person recommended in her and his respective field and discipline, it said.. “Details in this regard are also available under the heading ‘Awards and Medals’ on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs and on the Padma Awards Portal ,” it said.. The statutes and rules relating to these awards are also available on the website, the statement added.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for assembly elections in five regions – Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal – involving 824 assembly constituencies, around 17.4 crore voters, and 2,18,807 polling stations.. The Election Commission of India revealed assembly election dates for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, covering a total of 824 constituencies with around 17.4 crore voters. (PTI). Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said nearly 25 lakh election officials will be deployed to conduct the polls across the four states and one Union Territory.. Counting of votes for all five regions will be held on May 4, 2026.. ALSO READ | EC announces poll dates for 4 states, 1 UT: Voting between Apr 9–29, results May 4; all except Bengal in single phase. Key numbers of the 2026 assembly elections. Total constituencies: 824. Total voters: Around 17.4 crore. Polling stations: 2,18,807. Election officials: Around 25 lakh. Category-wise seats by state. Assam: 126 seats – 98 general, 9 SC, 19 ST. Kerala: 140 seats – 124 general, 14 SC, 2 ST. Puducherry: 30 seats – 25 general, 5 SC. Tamil Nadu: 234 seats – 188 general, 44 SC, 2 ST. West Bengal: 294 seats – 210 general, 68 SC, 16 ST. State-wise election schedule and numbers. Assam – 126 seats | Single phase voting on April 9. The assembly election in Assam will be held in a single phase on April 9, 2026.. Schedule. – Gazette notification: March 16, 2026. – Last date for nominations: March 23, 2026. – Scrutiny of nominations: March 24, 2026. – Last date for withdrawal: March 26, 2026. – Polling date: April 9, 2026. – Counting: May 4, 2026. – Election process completion: May 6, 2026. Electorate. Male voters: Around 1.25 crore. Female voters: Around 1.25 crore. Third gender: 343. Total voters: Around 2.50 crore. Polling stations. Total: 31,486 – 3,775 urban; 27,711 rural.. Average voters per booth: 793. Special booths -. – Model polling stations: 126. – Women-managed polling stations: 3,716. – PwD-managed booths: 23. ALSO READ | ‘Convenient’: Election Commission of India on why Bengal election phases have been reduced from 8 to 2. Kerala – 140 seats | Single phase voting on April 9. All 140 constituencies in Kerala will go to polls on April 9, 2026.. Schedule. – Gazette notification: March 16, 2026. – Last date for nominations: March 23, 2026. – Scrutiny: March 24, 2026. – Withdrawal deadline: March 26, 2026. – Polling: April 9, 2026. – Counting: May 4, 2026. – Completion: May 6, 2026. Electorate. Male voters: 1.31 crore. Female voters: 1.38 crore. Third gender: 277. Total voters: 2.70 crore. Polling stations. Total: 30,471. Average voters per booth: 885. Special booths -. – Model polling stations: 790. – Women-managed booths: 397. – PwD-managed booths: 31. Puducherry – 30 seats | Polling on April 9. The Union Territory of Puducherry will elect 30 MLAs on April 9, 2026.. Schedule. – 

 The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for by-elections to assembly seats across six states, with voting set to be held in two phases in April.. Election commission announces bypoll dates for six states (Representative/AFP). Polling in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura will take place on April 9, while Gujarat and Maharashtra will vote on April 23. Counting of votes for all by-elections will be conducted on May 4, the poll body said.. Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, Tripura. • Notification: 16 March 2026. • Last Date for Nominations: 23 March 2026. • Scrutiny: 24 March 2026. • Withdrawal: 26 March 2026. • Polling: 9 April 2026. Gujarat and Maharashtra. • Notification: 30 March 2026. • Last Date for Nominations: 6 April 2026. • Scrutiny: 7 April 2026. • Withdrawal: 9 April 2026. • Polling: 23 April 2026. Counting for all by-polls. • 4 May 2026. Completion of Election Process. 6 May 2026 

 Hours before the Election Commission’s announcement of the poll schedule on Sunday, Union home minister Amit Shah said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Assam will return to power with a record mandate in the upcoming assembly elections.. Union home minister Amit Shah said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Assam will return to power with a record mandate in the upcoming assembly elections. (PTI). Shah, who was on a two-day visit to the state beginning Saturday, addressed a gathering of the BJP’s youth workers in Guwahati. “Nearly 125,000 youths from 31,400 polling booths from across Assam are present in the meeting today… The outcome of any election can be gauged from the gathering of any party’s youth workers,” he said.. “The Maha Kumbh of youths in Guwahati today makes it clear that in the coming election the government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma will come to power. I can easily predict that BJP will achieve a record majority in this election,” he added.. Also Read: Students should be able to study medicine in India, needn’t go abroad: Amit Shah. Voting to elect 126 new members of the Assam assembly is expected to take place in the first half of next month, and the BJP, which came to power in 2016 and 2021, is trying to retain power for a third consecutive term.. Five years ago, the party secured 60 seats and formed the government with the support of allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL).. “Anyone who sees today’s gathering can easily presume what will be the status of parties opposing us in the next election,” Shah said, listing the state government’s achievements in the past five years, including providing 165,000 government jobs against a promise of 100,000 made in 2021.. “Did anyone have to pay any bribe or secure recommendation from any leaders to get jobs and not a single court case (alleging irregularities in appointments) was filed. This is an indication of how BJP runs governments,” he added.. Shah accused past Congress governments of not respecting Assam’s language, heritage and culture and of failing to curb terror outfits. He highlighted how peace deals with various armed groups in the past five years led to the surrender of arms by over 10,800 youths and brought peace across the state after decades.. He blamed the Congress for encouraging illegal infiltrators for vote bank politics and assured that once the BJP returns to power in Assam for the third time, they will be detained and deported not just from the state but from every corner of the country.. “Can Congress act against illegal infiltrators? Only BJP can make Assam infiltrator-free. Congress had legalised, formalised and normalised illegal infiltrators, but we have taken a resolve to throw them out,” said Shah while lauding the state government for evicting illegal settlers from 49,500 acres of encroached government and forest land.