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Uday Kotak Honored with Padma Bhushan, Vows to Continue India's Journey

Veteran banker Uday Kotak was conferred the Padma Bhushan on Republic Day for his contributions to trade and industry. In his acceptance, Kotak reflected on India's dramatic transformation since his birth and expressed a commitment to continued progress. Union Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated Kotak, praising his instrumental role in shaping modern Indian banking. The Padma Awards 2026 list includes 131 awardees across diverse fields, with 19 women and 16 posthumous honors.

Key Points: Uday Kotak Receives Padma Bhushan on Republic Day

  • Uday Kotak honored with Padma Bhushan
  • Recognized for shaping modern Indian banking
  • 131 recipients in Padma Awards 2026
  • Kotak reflects on India's transformative journey
2 min read

"We have miles to go before we sleep...": Uday Kotak after conferred Padma Bhushan

Veteran banker Uday Kotak conferred Padma Bhushan for trade & industry. He reflects on India's transformation and the road ahead.

"We have miles to go before we sleep... - Uday Kotak"

New Delhi, January 26

We have miles to go before we sleep, remarked veteran banker Uday Kotak on Monday as the government conferred upon him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the trade and industry sector. The Founder and Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank expressed his gratitude after being named among the 131 recipients of the Padma Awards 2026.

Uday Kotak, on X, noted that the India of today remains unrecognisable from the one he was born in. "I am humbled and honoured to be conferred the Padma Bhushan. The India of today is unrecognisable from the one I was born in. The journey has been exhilarating. On this Republic Day, we stand at the fork of many roads. I choose the path of karma with a sense of paranoia, with aspiration, but conscious of ground realities. I have a deep conviction that we, the people will make India even greater. We have miles to go before we sleep..."

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also took to X to congratulate the veteran banker on the achievement. Goyal noted, "Congratulations to @UdayKotak ji, Founder & Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, on being conferred with the Padma Bhushan for his instrumental role in shaping modern Indian banking. His contributions to strengthening the country's financial sector remain significant and are a reflection of strong leadership & a long-term vision to further advance India's banking ecosystem."

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the Padma Awards 2026 on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, recognising excellence and service across diverse fields. The 2026 list comprises 131 awardees, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients. The awards span categories such as art, public affairs, medicine, literature and education, sports, science and engineering, social work, and trade and industry.

The current year's honours include 19 women awardees and six individuals from the category of foreigners or persons of Indian origin abroad. The government also conferred 16 posthumous honours as part of the announcement.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hearty congratulations to him! It's good to see industrialists being recognised. But I do hope the Padma awards also continue to highlight the countless unsung heroes working in rural areas and social sectors. Their contributions are equally vital for the nation's progress.
R
Rohit P
"Miles to go before we sleep" - what a powerful way to put it. The journey of India's economic growth is ongoing, and leaders like him have paved the way. Makes me proud on Republic Day! Jai Hind.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked in Indian banking for a decade, I have immense respect for Mr. Kotak's vision. He built a customer-centric bank in a competitive space. The Padma Bhushan is a fitting tribute.
V
Vikram M
Fully deserved. But a small critique: while we celebrate these awards for industry leaders, I sometimes feel the real "trade and industry" heroes are the small shopkeepers and MSME owners who employ millions. Hope their stories get highlighted too.
K
Karthik V
His humility is commendable. Even after such massive success, he talks about choosing the path of karma and being conscious of ground realities. That's a lesson for all of us. More power to him!

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