AI SummaryPandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Award gives national appreciation and a cash prize of rupees two lakh to skilled individuals, organisations and institutions of India for their outstanding work in the telecom sector. Department of Telecommunications, under Ministry of Communications, has set up this award to push new ideas in telecom and to build a strong telecom skill ecosystem in the country.
The award looks at notable and exceptional contributions in areas like telecom innovation, telecom skilling, telecom services, telecom manufacturing and telecom applications. Work done in fields such as agriculture, commerce, health and education also comes under its scope. Preference is given to work carried out in rural, remote and aspirational districts.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Award - Overview
This award was started in 2018 and is given every year. In July 2026, Union Minister of Communications conferred the awards for the 2025 cycle to two organisations, Amantya Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Finaara, for their strong contributions in telecom technology. Nominations for each cycle are invited through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, awards.gov.in, which is managed by the Director General, Awards under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Selection is done in a clear manner. A Subcommittee of the Award Committee checks the applications for eligibility and completeness. It then puts forward its suggestions to the Award Committee, headed by Secretary (Telecom). Names recommended by the Committee go to the Minister of Communications for final approval.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Award |
| Launched By | Department of Telecommunications |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Communications |
| Beneficiary Type | Individuals and Registered Institutions |
| Benefit Type | Cash Award and National Appreciation |
| Cash Amount | ₹2,00,000 per awardee |
| Application Mode | Online via Rashtriya Puraskar Portal |
| Official Website | awards.gov.in |
Benefits
Selected awardees receive the following:
- Cash prize of ₹2,00,000 for each awardee.
- National appreciation through a shawl, citation and plaque.
- Reimbursement of economy class airfare through the shortest route for attending the ceremony.
- Lump sum of ₹7,500 towards boarding, lodging and incidental expenses.
Eligibility
Anyone who meets the points below can apply for this award:
- Must be an Indian citizen or an organisation or institution registered in India, or one created by the Central or State governments or Union Territories.
- Must have done the work in India during the last three years.
- There is no age limit, so age is not a limiting factor for good work.
- Persons who received this award during the last three years cannot apply again.
- Government employees are not eligible for their regular official duties, but can apply for work done beyond their job or after retirement.
- Contribution must be notable in telecom innovation, skilling, services, manufacturing or applications.
Application Process
Application is submitted online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal. Nominations for the 2025 cycle were invited from 27 August 2025 to 30 October 2025. Follow these steps:
STEP 1 - Go to the official National Awards Portal at awards.gov.in and register or log in with your details.
STEP 2 - Find Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Award in the list and open its nomination form.
STEP 3 - Fill in the online form with your personal and organisation details, and describe the work or contribution in detail.
STEP 4 - Upload the required supporting documents and evidence of work, and submit the nomination.
STEP 5 - Keep the original documents ready, as the department may ask for them during verification.
Documents
Applicants must keep these documents ready before applying:
- Detailed description of the work or contribution.
- Proof of identity for individuals, or registration certificate for institutions.
- Recommendation letter from the parent organisation, if the work was done in an official capacity.
- Supporting evidence and documents of telecom achievements.
- Self certification confirming the accuracy of the details given.
- Annual reports or Articles of Association for organisations, as required.
References
For the latest details and updates, visit the official award page at awards.gov.in award details.
Read the July 2026 press release on the awards conferred at PIB release on pandit deendayal upadhyaya telecom excellence awards.
Nominations are handled on the official National Awards Portal at awards.gov.in National Awards Portal.
FAQ's
Who is eligible to apply for this award?
Any Indian citizen or organisation registered in India that has made a notable contribution to the telecom sector in the last three years can apply. There is no age limit.
What is the value of the cash award?
Each awardee receives a cash prize of ₹2,00,000 along with a shawl, citation and plaque.
How many awards are given each year?
The government gives a maximum of 5 awards every year, as long as suitable candidates are found.
Can a person nominate themselves?
Yes, self nomination is allowed for both individuals and organisations. Organisations can also nominate their own employees.
How are the winners selected?
A Subcommittee checks the applications, the Award Committee headed by Secretary (Telecom) reviews them, and the Minister of Communications gives the final approval.
How do I apply for the award?
Application is done online through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in.