Janaagraha Awards: Odisha is best in urban governance

12 Jan 2021 Editorial Team

Held in memory of V Ramachandran, a doyen of decentralisation, the awards recognize ground-breaking work in decentralisation in urban context by institutions across government. The awards were conferred in a virtual ceremony by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday.

Delivering the keynote address, Puri said that cooperative and competitive federalism are in-built into the design and execution of various schemes and missions. “My Ministry is clear that only a partnership between citizens, municipalities, states and MoHUA can deliver transformative urban change in this country.”

Odisha won the Best State for its JAGA Mission under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Meanwhile, the Best Civic Agency was awarded to Piped Water Supply Scheme for all Urban Households, Public Health Engineering Organisation, Odisha. G Mathivathanan, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Odisha, received the awards for both the categories.

Kerala’s Fourth State Finance Commission was feted for its recommendations on participatory governance and robust data ecosystem Decentralisation.

Indore Municipal Corporation was feted with the Best Municipality award for its PPP Based Integrated Solid Waste Management.

Winners of 2nd Edition of Janaagraha City Governance Awards

Best State

Winner - JAGA Mission, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Odisha

Ist Runner-Up – Decentralisation of Plan Approvals, Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra

IInd Runner-Up – Geo-spatial Mapping of Urban Properties, Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration Department, Government of Telangana

Best Municipality

Winner – PPP Based Integrated Solid Waste Management, Indore Municipal Corporation

Ist Runner Up - My City Beautiful City, Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation

IInd Runner Up - GIS Based Property Tax Administration System, Raipur Municipal Corporation

Honourable Mention - Zero Waste Initiative, Kollam Municipal Corporation

Honourable Mention - Decentralised Solid Waste Management, Vellore Municipal Corporation

Honourable Mention - Decentralised Solid Waste Management, Petlad Municipality

Best Civic Agency

Winner – Piped Water Supply Scheme for all Urban Households, Public Health Engineering Organisation, Odisha

Ist Runner-Up – Municipal E-Governance Project, Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company

IInd Runner-Up – Integrated Transport Management System, Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport

Honourable Mention – E-Platform and ERP System, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority

Best State Election Commission

Winner - E-Voting, Gujarat State Election Commission

Ist Runner-Up – Bifurcation of Assembly Rolls and Digitisation of Local Body Voter List, Maharashtra State Election Commission

2nd Runner-Up- E-Election Software, Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission

Best State Finance Commission

Winner - Kerala 4th State Finance Commission

Ist Runner-Up - Bihar 5th State Finance Commission

IInd Runner-Up - Maharashtra 4th State Finance Commission

Odisha took home the Best State and the Best Civic Agency award, while Gujarat took home the Best State Election Commission and Kerala the Best State Finance Commission. Indore for its PPP Based Integrated Solid Waste Management took home the Best Municipality at Janaagraha City Governance Awards. Meanwhile, Maharashtra won runners-up in four of the five award categories.Held in memory of V Ramachandran, a doyen of decentralisation, the awards recognize ground-breaking work in decentralisation in urban context by institutions across government. The awards were conferred in a virtual ceremony by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday.Delivering the keynote address, Puri said that cooperative and competitive federalism are in-built into the design and execution of various schemes and missions. “My Ministry is clear that only a partnership between citizens, municipalities, states and MoHUA can deliver transformative urban change in this country.”Odisha won the Best State for its JAGA Mission under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Meanwhile, the Best Civic Agency was awarded to Piped Water Supply Scheme for all Urban Households, Public Health Engineering Organisation, Odisha. G Mathivathanan, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Odisha, received the awards for both the categories.Kerala’s Fourth State Finance Commission was feted for its recommendations on participatory governance and robust data ecosystem Decentralisation.Indore Municipal Corporation was feted with the Best Municipality award for its PPP Based Integrated Solid Waste Management.Winners of 2nd Edition of Janaagraha City Governance Awards Best StateWinner - JAGA Mission, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of OdishaIst Runner-Up – Decentralisation of Plan Approvals, Urban Development Department, Government of MaharashtraIInd Runner-Up – Geo-spatial Mapping of Urban Properties, Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration Department, Government of TelanganaBest MunicipalityWinner – PPP Based Integrated Solid Waste Management, Indore Municipal CorporationIst Runner Up - My City Beautiful City, Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation IInd Runner Up - GIS Based Property Tax Administration System, Raipur Municipal Corporation Honourable Mention - Zero Waste Initiative, Kollam Municipal Corporation Honourable Mention - Decentralised Solid Waste Management, Vellore Municipal CorporationHonourable Mention - Decentralised Solid Waste Management, Petlad MunicipalityBest Civic AgencyWinner – Piped Water Supply Scheme for all Urban Households, Public Health Engineering Organisation, OdishaIst Runner-Up – Municipal E-Governance Project, Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development CompanyIInd Runner-Up – Integrated Transport Management System, Navi Mumbai Municipal TransportHonourable Mention – E-Platform and ERP System, Mussoorie Dehradun Development AuthorityBest State Election CommissionWinner - E-Voting, Gujarat State Election CommissionIst Runner-Up – Bifurcation of Assembly Rolls and Digitisation of Local Body Voter List, Maharashtra State Election Commission 2nd Runner-Up- E-Election Software, Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission Best State Finance CommissionWinner - Kerala 4th State Finance Commission Ist Runner-Up - Bihar 5th State Finance Commission IInd Runner-Up - Maharashtra 4th State Finance Commission

Infrastructure Urban

03 Apr 2026

Centre Disburses Over Rs 24,610 mn in XV Finance Commission Grants

The Union Government has released XV Finance Commission tied grants during the financial year 2025–26 to rural local bodies in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Sikkim and has released withheld portions of tied and untied grants to Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Tripura. The total disbursal exceeded Rs 24,610 mn, with figures expressed in million (mn) thereafter. The releases cover allocations pertaining to different financial years and aim to strengthen rural local governance. State-wise disbursements included Rs 3,324.6 mn for Punjab, Rs 9,432.7 mn for Madhya Pradesh, Rs 3,47..

Infrastructure Urban

03 Apr 2026

Centre Releases Over Rs 15 bn as XV FC Grants to Rural Bodies

The Union Government has released over Rs 15 bn in grants recommended by the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in six states. The funds comprise tied and untied grants disbursed in FY 2025–26. Telangana received Rs 2.48 bn as the first instalment of untied grants for FY 2025–26, benefitting 12600 Gram Panchayats (GPs). Uttarakhand received Rs 913.1 mn as the second instalment and an additional Rs 18.4 mn of a withheld first instalment was released to a further 216 GPs. Mizoram is included among beneficiary st..

Infrastructure Energy

03 Apr 2026

Government Assures Fuel Supplies And Seafarer Safety Amid West Asia Developments

The Government of India has stepped up coordinated measures to maintain stability in critical sectors as developments in West Asia continue to unfold. It has prioritised uninterrupted energy supplies, safeguarded maritime operations and extended consular assistance to nationals. Central authorities are working with State and Union territory administrations to ensure timely information dissemination and operational continuity. Refineries are reported to be operating at high capacity with adequate inventories of petrol and diesel, and domestic LPG production has been increased to support consump..