Suakati Gram Panchayat Wins Jury Award at National e-Governance Awards 2025
Odisha’s grassroots body shines among top three digital innovators in India
Suakati Gram Panchayat in Odisha’s Keonjhar district has earned national recognition by winning the prestigious Jury Award at the 22nd National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025, making the state proud with its achievement in digital governance.
This year marks a historic milestone as Gram Panchayats were formally included in the awards for the first time. Suakati Gram Panchayat is one of only three local bodies across India to be honoured in this newly introduced category, which highlights successful grassroots-level use of technology to enhance public service delivery.
The two other awardees in the Gram Panchayat category are Palsana Gram Panchayat from Gujarat and Lalitpur Municipal Council from Uttar Pradesh. Their recognition reflects a growing emphasis on digital empowerment at the village level, aiming to bridge the digital divide and bring e-governance benefits to rural populations.
Organised annually by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, the National Awards for e-Governance celebrate excellence in digital initiatives across government bodies. The 2025 edition saw 10 Gold and 6 Silver awards conferred across six broad categories, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity best practices to data-driven governance and replication of national-level solutions at local scales.
Among the Gold Award winners were several major national institutions, including:
* The Indian Bureau of Mines for its innovative Mining Tenement System,
* The India Meteorological Department for its Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System,
* The Commercial Tax Department of Madhya Pradesh for SAMPADA 2.0, and
* The Ministry of Civil Aviation for its seamless travel solution Digi Yatra.
Projects from the Ministry of Defence, National Highways Authority of India, and the National Informatics Centre were also recognised for their forward-thinking applications of digital tools.
Each Gold Award carries a Rs.10 lakh incentive, while Silver Awardees receive Rs.5 lakh. These funds are intended to support further digital development by the winning entities, helping them scale their innovations or plug resource gaps in service delivery.
The awards will be officially presented during the 28th National Conference on e-Governance, where top digital innovators from around the country will gather to discuss the future of technology-led governance in India.
