A record number of 2,345 entries have been received to compete for the prestigious “Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2017” to be given by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Civil Services Day on 21st April this year. Of the 2,345 entries received for the awards, 1515 have been received from 599 districts under the priority programmes category and 830 from various organizations and government agencies under innovation category. Uttar Pradesh has sent 269 entries, Madhya Pradesh has sent 114 entries, followed by Telangana and Gujarat with 98, Odisha with 83, Rajasthan with 82 and Jharkhand with 81.Among the North-Eastern and Hill States, Assam has sent maximum number of entries i.e. 50, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 33 and Uttarakhand with 22. Jammu & Kashmir has sent a total of 17 entries. After reviewing the preparations for the two-day Civil Services Day programmes here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh elaborated that the final award winners will be decided on the basis of the performance of the priority programmes and innovation initiatives of Government of India undertaken by different districts or States of India during the period from 1st April 2015 to 31st December 2016 and the last date for receiving the entries / applications was 26th January this year. This year’s awards, he said, will be based primarily on excellence in implementation of five priority programmes of Government of India, which include (i) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), (ii) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), (iii) Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), (iv) e-National Agriculture Market (eNAM) and (v) Startup India, Standup India. In addition, he said, awards shall also be presented for innovation work done in areas of environment, conservation, disaster management, education, health, women and child initiatives, etc. Dr Jitendra Singh said, that under the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the entire concept and format of Civil Services Day has evolved in the last two years and transformed from being a mere ritual to an elaborate stimulating academic event inspiring a sense of healthy competition among the different districts and States of the country to excel each other in implementing the various public welfare schemes and programmes of Government of India. In addition, he said, it has also inculcated a spirit of healthy competition among young Collectors and Deputy Commissioners across the country to showcase their work and to share it with the rest of the fraternity across the country, with final recognition and award from the Prime Minister of India. While the event will be spread over two days and into different sessions touching upon different areas, Dr Jitendra Singh said, an effort is also being made to have some of the most renowned Noble laureates from across the world to deliver keynote addresses during different sessions. Union Secretary DARPG, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Shri C. Viswanath and senior officers were present at the meeting.