New Delhi: In a significant global recognition of India’s efforts in leveraging digital tools for rural empowerment, the “Meri Panchayat” mobile application has been honored with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. The accolade was conferred under the Action Line Category: Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity and Local Content at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The award, presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), acknowledges Meri Panchayat as a global model for promoting inclusive, participatory, and transparent governance through mobile-enabled technology. Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, received the WSIS Champion Certificate at a ceremonial event in New Delhi today, accompanied by Minister of State Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Secretary Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, and senior MoPR officials.
Speaking at the event, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh said,
“The Meri Panchayat app is a vital instrument in advancing citizen-centric governance. It empowers communities at the grassroots level and bridges the digital divide by delivering vital services and information in real time.”
He emphasized the importance of digital governance tools in strengthening transparency, democratic participation, and civic engagement in India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats.
Global Recognition at WSIS+20
The WSIS+20 Forum, conducted from 7 to 11 July 2025, marks two decades since the original WSIS declaration and serves as a platform for UN agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, and ITU to discuss digital inclusion and information equity. The Swiss Confederation co-hosted the event.
On 10 July, Ms. Sunita Jain, Senior Director at NIC/MoPR, accepted the award on behalf of the Government of India in Geneva, underscoring India’s leadership in grassroots digital transformation.
About the Meri Panchayat App
Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the Meri Panchayat App is a robust m-Governance platform designed for Gram Panchayats across India. It serves more than 25 lakh elected representatives and connects approximately 950 million rural residents.
Key Features:
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Live Panchayat Data: Real-time access to budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans
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Representative Directory: Information on elected officials and functionaries
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Infrastructure Insights: Public works, civic amenities, and local services at a glance
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GPDPs & Projects: Access to Gram Panchayat Development Plans and project tracking
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Grievance Redressal: Geo-tagged complaint logging, social audits, and fund utilization
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Weather Updates: Panchayat-level forecasts for rural agricultural planning
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Multilingual Access: Available in 12+ Indian languages for inclusivity
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Civic Engagement: Citizens can rate completed projects, attend Gram Sabhas virtually, and propose new initiatives
The Meri Panchayat app stands as a testament to India’s digital-first governance strategy and offers a replicable model for other nations seeking to enhance local participation, accountability, and development through technology.
Source: PIB
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