Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Civil Services Day, released two e-Coffee Table Books highlighting outstanding initiatives in governance and conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration at a ceremony held in New Delhi on Monday.
The e-books titled ‘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’ showcase impactful initiatives and transformative governance practices from across India.
During the event, PM Modi presented awards to districts and government bodies from both the Centre and States for their exceptional implementation of priority programmes and innovative governance solutions.
A film showcasing the award-winning initiatives was also screened as part of the ceremony.
Among the notable winners, Jharkhand’s Gamharia block in Seraikella Kharsawan district clinched the top position under the Aspirational Block Program category. Ravi Shankar Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Seraikella-Kharsawan, received the award on behalf of the block, which stood out among 500 aspirational blocks across the country.
The awards are a key feature of Civil Services Day, observed annually to encourage civil servants to reaffirm their dedication to public service. The date commemorates the historic address by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the first batch of Administrative Service officers in 1947 at Metcalfe House, Delhi.
To mark the occasion, the Government is hosting a day-long Civil Services Day conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, bringing together senior bureaucrats and government officials from across the country.
The Aspirational Block Program, launched by NITI Aayog in January 2023, aims to transform 500 underdeveloped blocks across India by accelerating socio-economic progress through better governance and service delivery. It focuses on five key areas: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Allied Services, Basic Infrastructure, and Social Development.
The Prime Minister’s Awards scheme was established to honour exemplary and innovative work by district administrations and government organisations for improving the welfare of citizens and promoting administrative excellence.
