PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2026: ₹20 Lakh Grant & Details

At a glance

About the scheme

Instituted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, this scheme honours exemplary and innovative governance initiatives across India. The awards cover vital focus areas such as water management, health, education, aspirational districts, and innovation, placing strong emphasis on measurable qualitative outcomes and citizen participation. Presented annually around Civil Services Day, the scheme supports administrative bodies in scaling impactful work and closing resource gaps in public welfare.

Benefits

• A financial incentive of ₹20,00,000 per awardee to support project implementation or bridge welfare resource gaps.
• An annual prestigious trophy presented to the selected district or organisation.
• A scroll providing official recognition of administrative excellence.
• A formal letter of appreciation issued to contributing officers for inclusion in their Performance Appraisal Dossier.
• Awards and certificates are presented physically on Civil Services Day (around 21 April).

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Must be a District, Central Government Organisation, State Government Organisation, or an Implementing Unit.
• The nominated project must have been implemented between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2022.
• The application must be represented by an incumbent officer.
• Must demonstrate measurable qualitative, quantitative, and governance outcomes.
• The project must provide clear evidence of innovation, sustainability, and replicability.
• Must show active citizen participation (Jan Bhagidari) during execution.
• Submissions must relate to schemes in water, health, education, aspirational districts, or innovation.

Documents required

• Executive Summary of the project
• Detailed Project Report covering qualitative, quantitative, and governance parameters
• Supporting documents and empirical evidence
• Field photographs (maximum 10)
• Flow charts and process documentation
• Short film showcasing the initiative (3 to 5 minutes duration)
• Beneficiary feedback details
• Sustainability plan and replication toolkit (for the innovation category)
• Authorisation letter of the incumbent officer
• Index of abbreviations and acronyms

How to apply

1. 1Open the official scheme portal and fill in the nomination form in the prescribed online format.
2. 2Upload the Detailed Project Report, short documentary film, field photos, and supporting evidence.
3. 3The initial screening committee examines submissions and shortlists qualified applications.
4. 4Shortlisted candidates deliver project presentations while independent feedback is gathered from beneficiaries.
5. 5A secondary screening assesses initiatives based on the presentation and collected feedback.
6. 6A designated Central Government inspection team conducts a physical spot study.
7. 7The Expert Committee evaluates all findings and recommends top-performing entries.
8. 8The Empowered Committee finalises the recommendations for ultimate approval by the Prime Minister.

Frequently asked questions