Centre launches portal for 2026 Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration

NEW DELHI: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has launched the online portal for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2026, opening the registration process for the annual recognition programme.

The portal, pmawards.gov.in, was launched on November 13 through a video-conferencing session attended by officials from Central ministries and departments, State and Union Territory administrations, and district administrations. More than 2,000 officers from around 750 locations participated in the launch.

The 2026 awards will comprise 16 awards across three categories, recognising contributions to district development, implementation of the Aspirational Blocks Programme and innovations in public administration.

The period of consideration for the awards is April 1, 2024, to November 30, 2026.

Three categories, 16 awards

The awards will be distributed across the following categories:

• Holistic Development of Districts: Five awards covering 12 priority-sector programmes.
• Aspirational Blocks Programme: Five awards.
• Innovations: Six awards for Central ministries and departments, States and Union Territories, and districts.

The Innovation category will allow Central ministries and departments, State and UT governments, and district administrations to participate in their respective categories.

Nine schemes added to district assessment

The Holistic Development of Districts category has undergone a comprehensive revision for the 2026 awards, with nine additional schemes incorporated into the assessment framework.

These include Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and AMRUT, Gyan Bharatam, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Crop Diversification under three components, PM SHRI, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), National Mission on Natural Farming and capacity building under iGOT.

Three schemes from the 2025 awards have been retained: Har Ghar Jal Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

The schemes approved under the 2026 awards will also continue for the 2027 edition.

513 Aspirational Blocks to participate

The Aspirational Blocks Programme category will cover 513 blocks across 331 districts.

Central ministries and departments have been asked to submit quantitative, qualitative and governance parameters to DARPG by November 17, 2026. These inputs will facilitate the preparation and uploading of application forms on the awards portal for submission by district administrations.

₹20 lakh incentive for award winners

Each Prime Minister’s Award will comprise a trophy, a scroll and an incentive of ₹20 lakh.

The financial incentive will be provided to the award-winning district or organisation for implementing a project or programme, or for bridging resource gaps in an area of public welfare.

The awards seek to recognise excellence in public administration and encourage improvements in governance, service delivery and development outcomes across the country.