PM Modi honours excellence in Public Administration on Civil Services Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, unveiled two e-Coffee Table Books — ‘Holistic Development of Districts for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’ and ‘Select Innovations from Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’.

The occasion also saw the Prime Minister conferring the prestigious Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to various districts and central and state government bodies for outstanding implementation of priority programmes and groundbreaking innovations in governance.

A short film showcasing the award-winning initiatives was screened prior to the award distribution ceremony, highlighting the impact and reach of the recognized projects.

In a major recognition, Jharkhand’s Gamharia block, located in the Seraikella Kharsawan district, received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2024, under the Aspirational Block Program category.

“Gamharia has secured first place among 500 aspirational blocks across the country,” said Ravi Shankar Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Seraikella-Kharsawan, who accepted the award on behalf of the block.

The awards were presented as part of the Civil Services Day celebrations held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Civil Services Day, observed annually on April 21, commemorates the historic address by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the first batch of Administrative Service Officers at Metcalfe House in Delhi in 1947.

The day serves as a moment for civil servants to reaffirm their dedication to public service and their mission to work towards citizen-centric governance.

The Aspirational Block Program, launched by NITI Aayog on January 7, 2023, aims to improve the overall quality of life in 500 underdeveloped blocks across India. The programme focuses on accelerating socio-economic development through improved governance and service delivery, with key indicators across five focus areas: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Allied Services, Basic Infrastructure, and Social Development.

The Scheme for Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration was designed to honour the exemplary and innovative contributions of districts and organisations in central and state governments that work relentlessly for the welfare of the common citizen.