PUNJAB BAGS PRESTIGIOUS ‘DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD’ FOR CITIZEN-CENTRIC REFORMS

PUNJAB BAGS PRESTIGIOUS ‘DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD’ FOR CITIZEN-CENTRIC REFORMS

•*Tech-driven governance is our priority, Aman Arora affirms*

•*Punjab Govt leveraging technology to ensure transparency, efficiency & seamless delivery of public services: Aman Arora*

*• Director GG&IT Sarangal received Award at Technology Sabha 2026 in Hyderabad*

Chandigarh, March 1 (WISHAVWARTA):- In a resounding endorsement of its citizen-centric reforms, the Government of Punjab has received the prestigious Digital Excellence Award at the Technology Sabha 2026, for the pioneering efforts in leveraging technology to ensure transparency, efficiency and last-mile delivery of public services.

Director Governance Good Governance and Information Technology (GG&IT) Mr. Vishesh Sarangal accepted the award on behalf of the state government at the Technology Sabha 2026 organised by the Indian Express Group in Hyderabad. The ceremony was attended by top technology leaders and policymakers from across the nation.

Dedicating the feat to the state’s citizens and the department’s team, Punjab Good Governance and Information Technology Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that this recognition is a direct outcome of the mandate given by the Punjab government, to build a transparent, paperless and accountable administrative framework.

This prestigious award validates Punjab Government’s efforts to ensure good governance and citizen-centric reforms, Mr. Aman Arora said, while giving credit to Punjab Government’s vision for eliminating the ‘middleman culture’ and empower every citizen by bringing services to their doorstep with dignity and ease. This digital transformation is not just about technology. It is about restoring the trust of the people in the system.

Mr. Aman Arora highlighted Punjab’s innovative, “first-of-its-kind” digital interventions that are setting new benchmarks in citizen convenience across the country, while sharing that “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar” is a revolutionary flagship scheme, which allows the citizens to access over 430 government services by just dialing helpline no. 1076 from the comfort of their homes. It eliminates the need to physically visit government offices. He further said that Punjab has also enabled Sarpanchs, Nambardars, and Municipal Councillors (MCs) to verify applications online. This has drastically accelerated the issuance of essential certificates, merging technology with grassroots leadership.

With the successful onboarding of Patwaris and field staff, the state has processed over 12.5 lakh applications online. This digital integration has resulted in a record-low pendency rate of just 0.33%, showcasing the system’s efficiency. Additionally, M-Sewa and Connect Punjab provide a unified mobile platform and robust grievance redressal system that empowers citizens to track their applications and submit feedback in real-time, ensuring accountability at every level, the Good Governance Minister highlighted.

Outlining the ambitious roadmap ahead, Mr. Vishesh Sarangal stated, “We are not resting on this laurel. The next phase of Punjab’s digital journey involves integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to further simplify service delivery. Our goal is to create a 100% paperless and contactless ecosystem for all major life-cycle services, including income, residence and caste certificates. This award would further fuel our determination to completely eliminate red-tapism, while ensuring every government service available to the common man at the click of a button.”