PANI

Government of India has instituted ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration’ to acknowledge and recognize the extraordinary and innovative work of District and Organisations of the Central and State Governments.

PM’s Awards are given on Civil Services Day held every 21st April of the year. On Civil Services Day 2015 held on 20th-21st April 2015, the Prime Minister presented 17 awards for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 to the initiatives for excellence in Governance. 

Beginning 2007, sixty seven awards have so far been conferred in three categories:

1. Individual, 

2. Group, 

3. Organization. 

From 2016 the Scheme has been revised and for the first time awards were conferred to the best performing districts in identified priority programmes. 

On the occasion of Civil Services Day 2016, awards were conferred to the 10 best performing districts for excellence done in the implementation of four priority programmes namely 

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna
• Swachh Bharat Gramin
• Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan
• Soil Health Care Scheme.

For the awards to be presented on Civil Services Day, 2017, the identified priority programmes were 

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
• Start up India/ Stand up India
• e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

In addition to the above, the award was also given for the excellence/ innovation work done by the Organisations of Central/State Government in the field of environment conservation, disaster management, water conservation, energy, education, health, women and child centric initiatives etc., of public governance. 

The award carries with it 

i) a Medal 

ii) a Scroll

iii) an incentive of 10 lakh to the awarded district/organisation to be utilized for implementation of project/programme or bridging resource gaps in any area of activity of public welfare.

Mechanism

The application for the award is evaluated by three hierarchical committees

• Screening Committee chaired by the Additional Secretary level officer, 
• Expert Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances 
• Empowered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. 

The Empowered Committee then makes its recommendations for the consideration of the Prime Minister for final selection of the awards.