The Government of India has received an overwhelming response for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, 2024, with 1,588 nominations submitted under the scheme. Aimed at recognizing the exceptional contributions of civil servants, the awards celebrate innovative and impactful governance initiatives across the country.
Out of 773 districts in India, 710—accounting for 92% of total districts—have registered for participation. The awards will be conferred by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21, 2025, during Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Award Categories and Nominations
The 2024 awards are categorized into three broad areas:
- Holistic Development of Districts (5 awards) – 437 nominations
- Aspirational Blocks Program (5 awards) – 426 nominations
- Innovations by Central Ministries/Departments, States, and Districts (6 awards) – 725 nominations
The introduction of the Aspirational Blocks Program has seen significant participation, reflecting a growing emphasis on administrative reforms at the grassroots level.
Evaluation Process & Incentives
The selection process involves three stages:
- Screening Committee chaired by Additional Secretaries
- Expert Committee chaired by the Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)
- Empowered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, which will submit final recommendations for the Prime Minister’s approval.
Each winning district or organization will receive a trophy, a scroll of recognition, and a financial incentive of ₹20 lakh, to be used for project implementation or bridging resource gaps in public welfare initiatives.
The PM’s Awards portal, launched on January 20, 2025, accepted nominations between January 27 and February 21, 2025. The enthusiastic participation reflects the commitment of civil servants to driving transformative governance.
The awards ceremony on April 21, 2025, will mark a significant occasion in acknowledging excellence in public administration.