Key Points
- Four Panchayati Raj projects win Gold and Silver at National e-Governance Awards 2026
- Kadepur Gram Panchayat delivers 1,355 services online to 4,300 beneficiaries
- Over 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats from 30 states participated in the awards
Four Panchayati Raj initiatives have won Gold and Silver prizes at the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026, recognising the growing role of Gram Panchayats in delivering digital services to citizens at the grassroots level. The awards will be conferred at the 29th National Conference on e-Governance in Jaipur on 1–2 July 2026.
The winning projects include a ministry-level data analytics platform, two Gram Panchayats recognised for citizen service delivery and a district-level healthcare initiative in a tribal region.
Gold awardees will receive an incentive of ₹10 lakh and Silver awardees ₹5 lakh, to be used for implementing projects or bridging resource gaps in public welfare.
Out of 17 projects selected across seven award categories this year, 10 received Gold, six received Silver and one received a Jury Award. The four Panchayati Raj awards reflect digital transformation taking root at the village level of governance across India.
Ministry’s data platform wins national recognition
The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), a data analytics tool developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, won Gold under the category for digital transformation through data analytics.
PAI measures the performance of Gram Panchayats across nine themes aligned with Localised Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) — targets adapted from the United Nations’ global goals for implementation at the village level. The index provides a data-backed assessment of governance outcomes in each Gram Panchayat.
The dedicated Gram Panchayat award category under NAeG was introduced for the first time at NAeG 2025, following the ministry’s advocacy for recognising online citizen services delivered at the grassroots level.
Participation has grown significantly — over 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats from 30 states submitted entries for NAeG 2026, up from 1.45 lakh entries from 26 states in 2025.
Maharashtra Gram Panchayat delivers over 1,300 services online
Kadepur Gram Panchayat in Sangli district, Maharashtra won Gold for grassroots-level initiatives in service delivery. The Panchayat has built a digital governance system that delivers more than 1,355 services fully online to over 4,300 beneficiaries.
The system operates through a paperless e-Office — a digital workflow system that eliminates paper-based file movement — supported by eight applications using artificial intelligence for administrative tasks, blockchain-based record management for tamper-proof documentation and Geographic Information System (GIS) based property mapping.
Kadepur is the only Gram Panchayat in India with formally approved policies on artificial intelligence, blockchain, nanotechnology, biotechnology and robotics.
Tripura Gram Panchayat achieves 100 per cent digital literacy among women
Bijoy Nagar Gram Panchayat in West Tripura district won Silver in the same category. The Panchayat achieved a PAI score of 88.55 under the index’s second version, reflecting a 38 per cent improvement over its earlier score.
Its own source revenue — funds raised locally rather than received as grants — grew by nearly 194 per cent.
Over 100 services are delivered online through the Panchayat’s e-Office. A platform called Gram Barta enables real-time voice communication with every household. The Panchayat has achieved 100 per cent digital literacy among women in its jurisdiction.
Tribal district healthcare initiative wins Gold
The Health Department of Zilla Parishad Nandurbar, Maharashtra won Gold under the district-level e-governance category for e-Aarogya Dhamni, a healthcare initiative.
The project uses digital tools to extend healthcare services to citizens in tribal and remote areas of Nandurbar district, where access to public health services has historically been limited.
The 29th National Conference on e-Governance is being jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of Rajasthan.
By the numbers
- ₹10 lakh
- Incentive for Gold Award winners
- 1.65 lakh
- Gram Panchayats participating from 30 states
- 1,355
- Services delivered online by Kadepur Gram Panchayat
The conference theme is ‘Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-Enabled, Data-Driven and Secure Digital Governance’.
Last year, at NAeG 2025, Rohini Gram Panchayat in Dhule, Maharashtra won Gold in the Gram Panchayat category, while West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat in West Tripura won Silver. Palsana Gram Panchayat in Surat, Gujarat and Suakati Gram Panchayat in Kendujhar, Odisha received Jury Awards.
Your Questions, Answered
What are the National e-Governance Awards?
The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) recognise government initiatives that use digital technology to improve citizen services. Winners receive a trophy, certificate and cash incentive of ₹10 lakh for Gold and ₹5 lakh for Silver awards.
Which Panchayati Raj projects won awards at NAeG 2026?
Four projects won: the Panchayat Advancement Index (Gold), Kadepur Gram Panchayat Maharashtra (Gold), Bijoy Nagar Gram Panchayat Tripura (Silver) and e-Aarogya Dhamni healthcare initiative from Nandurbar (Gold).
What is the Panchayat Advancement Index?
PAI is a data analytics tool by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj that measures Gram Panchayat performance across nine themes aligned with Localised Sustainable Development Goals. It provides data-backed assessment of governance outcomes at the village level.
When and where will the awards be presented?
The awards will be conferred at the 29th National Conference on e-Governance in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 1–2 July 2026.
