The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances launched the web portal (https://pmawards.gov.in/) for Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2026 on November 13, 2026, initiating the registration process via a video conference attended by over 2,000 officers from 750 locations including central ministries, state principal secretaries, and district collectors.
The awards scheme comprises 16 total awards distributed across three categories: Holistic Development of Districts under 12 priority sector programs (5 awards), Aspirational Blocks Program (5 awards), and Innovations for Central Ministries/Departments, States/UTs and Districts (6 awards). The evaluation period covers April 1, 2024, to November 30, 2026.
The Holistic Development category has been comprehensively revamped with 9 newly added schemes: SBM (Urban) and AMRUT, Gyan Bharatam, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Crop Diversification under three components, PM SHRI, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), National Mission on Natural Farming, and Capacity Building under IGOT. Three schemes from PMA 2025 continue: Har Ghar Jal Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. These schemes will also apply to Prime Minister's Awards 2027.
The Aspirational Blocks Program category covers 513 Aspirational Blocks across 331 districts in India. Central ministries were requested to submit quantitative, qualitative, and governance parameters to DARPG by November 17, 2026, to facilitate application form formulation.
Each award consists of a trophy, scroll, and an incentive of ₹20 lakh to the awarded district or organization, specifically designated for implementing projects/programs or bridging resource gaps in public welfare areas.