Turning India cashless: PM Modi to honor bureaucrats promoting digital-payments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would award select bureaucrats from across the country for promoting the central government's key programmes, including promotion of digital payments, on the occasion of Civil Services Day in April, according to an official statement issued today. A total of 2,010 applications have been received from various officers for the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. Here's more.
What is Civil Services Day?
The Civil Services Day is celebrated on April 21, every year, where bureaucrats rededicate themselves to public service, and Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are also conferred. This is preceded by a one-day event on April 20 where discussions are held on relevant topics of public administration and it is attended by a large cross-section of civil servants.
Government's priority programmes for awards this year
Four priority programmes - Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Promoting Digital Payments, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban & Rural), and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) - have been identified for the awards to be presented on Civil Services Day 2018.
How many applications were received for priority programmes category?
Under the priority programmes category, 2,010 applications have been received from 623 districts across States/Union Territories. Of the total entries, 453 are for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 258 for promoting digital payments, 665 and 412 entries for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban & Rural respectively. A total of 222 entries have been received for Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.
A new awards category introduced this year
"A new category of awards for Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary-level officers and Director/Deputy Secretary serving in Government of India has also been introduced this year to recognize their contribution towards bringing about transformational improvements in processes/systems through simplification and process re-engineering etc.," the official statement said.
Two awards for innovation in various government programmes
Two awards shall also be given to organizations of central/state government/district for innovations in environment conservation, disaster management, water conservation, energy, education and health, women and child-centric initiatives etc. Out of these, one award is earmarked for an Aspirational District, the statement said. Under this innovation category, 999 applications have been received from various organizations out of which 138 entries are from Aspirational Districts.
