Panchayat Digital Initiatives Shine at National e-Governance Awards 2026

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj's flagship Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) received a Gold Award under the category of Digital Transformation through Data Analytics.

Grassroots governance has emerged as a major success story at the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026, with four Panchayati Raj-related initiatives earning national recognition for their contribution to digital governance, citizen services and public welfare.

The awards will be presented during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance, scheduled to take place in Jaipur on July 1-2, 2026. Organized jointly by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of Rajasthan, this year's conference is themed "Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-Enabled, Data-Driven and Secure Digital Governance."

Among the 17 projects selected across seven award categories, four are linked directly to Panchayati Raj institutions and local governance systems, highlighting the growing role of village-level institutions in driving digital transformation.

Panchayat Advancement Index Wins National Gold

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj's flagship Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) received a Gold Award under the category of Digital Transformation through Data Analytics. The platform measures the performance of Gram Panchayats across India using indicators linked to the nine themes of Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). By providing detailed, data-driven insights into governance outcomes at the village level, the index helps strengthen planning, monitoring and accountability in local government institutions. The recognition reflects the increasing importance of data analytics in improving governance and public service delivery across rural India.

Maharashtra and Tripura Gram Panchayats Earn Top Honors

Kadepur Gram Panchayat in Sangli district, Maharashtra, secured a Gold Award for its innovative digital governance model. The Panchayat delivers more than 1,355 services online to over 4,300 beneficiaries through a completely paperless administration system.

Its governance framework includes artificial intelligence-powered applications, blockchain-enabled record management and GIS-based property mapping. Kadepur has also become the first Gram Panchayat in the country to formally adopt policies related to Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and Robotics.

Bijoy Nagar Gram Panchayat in West Tripura district received a Silver Award for its citizen-centric governance initiatives. The Panchayat has recorded significant improvements in governance performance, achieved complete digital literacy among women and introduced digital platforms that allow direct communication with households. More than 100 public services are now available online through its fully functional e-Office system.

Digital Healthcare Initiative Receives Gold Award

The Health Department of Zilla Parishad Nandurbar in Maharashtra was awarded a Gold Award for its e-Aarogya Dhamni initiative under the District-Level Initiatives in e-Governance category.

The programme uses digital tools to improve healthcare delivery in remote and tribal regions of Nandurbar district. By expanding access to medical services and improving responsiveness, the initiative has helped bring quality healthcare closer to communities that often face challenges in accessing public health facilities.

The recognition of these initiatives demonstrates how technology is increasingly transforming governance at the grassroots level, helping local institutions deliver more efficient, transparent and citizen-focused services while contributing to the broader vision of a digitally empowered India.