New Delhi: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has officially notified the Scheme for the 23rd National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026, inviting nominations from across India to celebrate innovation, efficiency, and excellence in e-Governance.
Aimed at promoting best practices in digital governance, the awards will recognize outstanding contributions under seven broad categories through 16 awards—including 10 Gold and 6 Silver Awards.
Award Categories for NAeG 2026:
Eligible nominations may be submitted under the following categories:
- Government Process Re-engineering using technology for digital transformation.
- Innovation through AI and emerging technologies for citizen-centric service delivery.
- Best practices or innovations in Cyber Security.
- District-level e-Governance initiatives.
- Grassroots digital initiatives by Gram Panchayats or local bodies to improve service delivery.
- Replication and Scaling of nationally awarded or mission-mode projects at state/district levels.
- Data Analytics-driven transformation by Central Ministries, States, and UTs.
Key Dates:
- Nominations Open: September 1, 2025
- Last Date to Apply: October 15, 2025
- Eligible Project Timeline: Projects launched between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025, and must be fully operational as of August 1, 2025.
Awards & Incentives:
Each Gold Awardee will receive:
- A trophy
- A certificate
- ₹10 lakh incentive for the implementing agency
Each Silver Awardee will receive:
- A certificate
- ₹5 lakh incentive
The incentives are meant to support ongoing public service projects or bridge resource gaps within government organizations.
Who Can Apply:
- Central Ministries/Departments
- State/UT Governments
- District Administrations
- Gram Panchayats & Local Bodies
- Startups
- Academic & R&D Institutions
Applications can be submitted online via the official portal: www.nceg.gov.in
About the Awards:
The National Awards for e-Governance, presented annually by DARPG, aim to recognize and encourage outstanding e-Governance initiatives that bring transparency, efficiency, and citizen satisfaction to public services. The awards foster knowledge-sharing and serve as a national platform for showcasing innovation in digital governance.
