PM Modi releases e-Coffee table books, presents awards for excellence in public administration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday released 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” — highlighting exemplary governance initiatives and innovative practices recognized under the Prime Minister’s Awards.

The Prime Minister also conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration for effective implementation of identified priority programmes and innovations to districts, as well as central and state government organisations.

A film showcasing the award-winning initiatives was screened before the presentation of the awards.

Jharkhand’s Gamharia block in Seraikella-Kharsawan district received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2024, in the category of the Aspirational Block Programme. Ravi Shankar Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Seraikella-Kharsawan, received the award on behalf of block Gamharia, which secured first place among 500 aspirational blocks across the country.

Civil Services Day is an occasion for civil servants across India to rededicate themselves to the service of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in governance. This date commemorates the day when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of the Administrative Service at Metcalfe House, Delhi, in 1947.

To mark Civil Services Day, the government is organising a day-long conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The Aspirational Block Programme is a NITI Aayog initiative, launched on January 7, 2023. It focuses on improving the overall quality of life in 500 underdeveloped blocks across the country by accelerating socio-economic development through improved governance, service delivery, and monitoring of key indicators. The programme focuses on five 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 instituted to recognise extraordinary and innovative work done by districts and organisations of the central and state governments for the welfare of the common citizen.