New Delhi: Ministry of Panchayati Raj secured major recognition at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026, with the Panchayat Advancement Index receiving a Gold Award for promoting data-driven rural governance.
The awards will be presented during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance in Jaipur on July 1 and 2, 2026. Moreover, the event will focus on AI-enabled, data-driven and secure digital governance under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
The Panchayat Advancement Index received the award in the digital transformation category for Central Ministries, States and Union Territories. It evaluates Gram Panchayat performance through indicators linked to Localised Sustainable Development Goals.
Panchayat Advancement Index highlights digital transformation
Kadepur Gram Panchayat in Maharashtra won a Gold Award for digital citizen services. Meanwhile, Bijoy Nagar Gram Panchayat in Tripura received a Silver Award in the grassroots governance category.
Kadepur developed a paperless e-Office system and provides more than 1,355 online services to over 4,300 beneficiaries. It also adopted AI-based applications, blockchain records and GIS-based property mapping.
Similarly, Bijoy Nagar improved digital governance through online services, financial accountability and citizen participation. The Gram Panchayat recorded a PAI 2.0 score of 88.55 and achieved complete digital literacy among women.
Additionally, the Health Department of Zilla Parishad Nandurbar, Maharashtra, won a Gold Award for the e-Aarogya Dhamni healthcare initiative. The project delivers digital healthcare services to tribal and remote communities.
The Ministry said participation in the Gram Panchayat category has increased significantly. More than 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats from 30 States took part in NAeG 2026.
