New Delhi, February 27, 2026: The 35th National Good Governance Webinar, organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), spotlighted award-winning district initiatives under the theme ‘Holistic Development of Districts’, reinforcing the Centre’s push for replication of best governance practices across India.
The webinar series is being conducted following the Prime Minister’s direction to hold regular virtual conferences with District Collectors and senior officials. The objective is to enable past winners of the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to share their experiences and facilitate wider replication.
Since April 2022, DARPG has organised one webinar every month, creating a national platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange. These sessions aim to institutionalise successful governance models and encourage their adaptation across states and Union Territories.
Eluru and Kulgam Take Centre Stage
The 35th edition featured two initiatives awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for 2023 under the ‘Holistic Development of Districts’ category.
Shri Prasanna Venkatesh V., Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society, presented the Eluru district initiative from Andhra Pradesh. He detailed how targeted interventions and coordinated administrative efforts led to measurable improvements in district-level development indicators.
From Jammu & Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Shri Athar Aamir Khan showcased Kulgam district’s initiative, outlining strategies adopted to ensure inclusive growth and effective service delivery in challenging terrain.
Platform for Institutional Learning
The webinar was chaired by Shri Puneet Yadav, Additional Secretary, DARPG, and attended by senior officials of the department. Participants joined from more than 740 locations across India, including District Collectors, officers from Administrative Reforms Departments, and representatives of Central and State Administrative Training Institutes.
Each session not only reviews the current status of the initiative but also examines how it has been institutionalised and sustained over time. Officials assess replication potential and identify areas where similar models can be implemented in other districts.
Holistic Development as Governance Priority
The theme ‘Holistic Development of Districts’ reflects a governance approach that integrates social welfare, infrastructure, service delivery and community participation. By recognising district-level innovations, the Centre aims to empower local administrations as engines of grassroots transformation.
Speakers emphasised that sharing practical experiences through structured presentations provides actionable insights rather than theoretical discussions. This format allows officers to understand implementation challenges and solutions directly from peers.
The monthly webinar series has emerged as a vital knowledge-sharing mechanism, encouraging states to adapt proven models while tailoring them to local contexts.
Strengthening Administrative Ecosystem
The DARPG’s sustained effort underscores the importance of continuous administrative learning. With around 1,000 officials attending each webinar on average, the initiative has created a large network of governance practitioners.
By facilitating cross-learning between districts such as Eluru and Kulgam, the government seeks to build an administrative ecosystem that rewards innovation and prioritises citizen-centric service delivery.