The Government of India has instituted ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for excellence in Public Administration’ to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by officers of the Central and State Governments. All officers of Central and State Governments individually or as a group or as organizations are eligible for consideration. Nominations are now being invited for the year 2010-11 under the scheme. The last date for receipt of nominations is July 15, 2011 in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions. The salient features of the scheme as well as operational guidelines are as under:

a) Nomination should strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Scheme and the eligibility criteria be specifically complied with.
b) Self nominations are not accepted.
c) In respect of nominations from States, the State Governments will constitute State level committees to shortlist their nominations and verify the facts before forwarding the nominations to the Central Government.
d) Nominations should generally be encouraged. However, nominating authorities and State-level committees are requested to forward/short-list nominations only if the initiative(s)/accomplishments(s) concerned is/are truly innovative, extra-ordinary, outstanding, exemplary and/or exceptional in nature. In other words, nominations should rank as exceptional on qualitative as well as quantitative measures for the achieved outcomes/results.
e) Nominating authorities should ensure that no vigilance case/enquiry is pending against the officer/s nominated. Overall performance of the officer/officers should also be considered while forwarding the nomination.
f) Central Government Departments, Ministries, State Governments, NGOs and other stakeholders can be nominating authorities.
g) Where the nomination is in respect of a group of individuals, it should be ensured that names of all the nominees concerned are explicitly stated.
h) Nomination should be submitted in the Form prescribed.

Detailed guidelines are available on the Department’s website: www.darpg.nic.in. While sending nominations, the concerned should go through the guidelines meticulously so as to ensure speedy and efficient processing of the nominations.