Overview
- The state publicly recognised PRAGATI 2025–26 awardees at a Civil Services Day ceremony Tuesday, following an April 19 government resolution that named the winners and set cash prizes.
- Among ministerial departments, the “Drone-Based Surveillance and Digital Data Maintenance System” took first place with a ₹10 lakh award for using drones to collect and manage administrative data.
- The Fisheries Department won the headquarters category for building artificial reefs in 182 coastal villages, with officials reporting a 29,000 kg rise in marine catch and local co-ops funded to maintain the structures.
- Municipal awards went to Amravati’s “Cool Roof” project (₹10 lakh), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Smart City’s WhatsApp and chatbot services (₹6 lakh), and Mira-Bhayandar’s e-governance drive (₹4 lakh).
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called for a “zero bureaucracy” model with startup-style departments, said about 85% of short-term programme targets are complete, and pointed to an upcoming Aaple Sarkar 2.0 portal to move more services online.