National Informatics Centre has instituted Web Ratna Awards to acknowledge the exemplary initiatives in e-Governance using the medium of World Wide Web. Different categories in Web Ratna Awards touch upon different aspect of e-Governance right from web presence to delivery of citizen services to public participation and innovations in use of technology.

These awards were conferred by Thiru A. Raja, the Hon'ble Union Minister of Communications & Information Technology, in the presence of Shri Sachin Pilot, the Hon'ble Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Shri R. Chandrashekhar, Secretary IT, Deptt of Information Technology, Shri. S.R. Rao, Additional Secretary, Deptt of Information Technology, Dr. B.K.Gairola, Director General, National Informatics Centre, Dr. Y.K Sharma, Deputy Director General, National Informatics Centre, and Mrs. Neeta Verma, Senior Technical Director, National Informatics Centre at an exclusive award presentation ceremony held on 19th April 2010 at Hall No. 6, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi at 4:00 PM. 

Speaking on the occasion, Thiru A. Raja said that Information Technology holds tremendous potential to extend and enable access to critical information and delivery of public services in a far more efficient and effective manner. He also emphasized the need to work together to develop and implement strategies and mechanisms to reach them.

The Minister also launched a new Access Friendly website of Department of Information Technology, www.mit.gov.in on the occasion to make internet accessible to visually impaired and physically challenged persons so that they too can equally benefit from the ICT revolution.

On the occasion, Shri Sachin Pilot, the Union Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology stressed upon the need to increase the penetration of internet and computers to remotest areas of the country to ensure an inclusive digitization of service delivery.

Altogether 24 organizations were given Web Ratna Awards in Platinum, Gold and Silver Icon categories. Selected awardees have been chosen out of 248 nominations received from 27 States/Union Territories as well as from the Ministries/Departments of Government India. These awardees were selected after an in-depth and comprehensive online and offline evaluation by an independent Jury which comprised representatives of IIM (Ahmedabad), IIT (Delhi), NASSCOM, Cyber Media (India) Ltd., Secretary (Department of Information Technology) and Director General (National Informatics Centre), among others. In order to choose the best websites in each category the Jury has evolved a matrix of parameters including “impact innovation”, “significance to common man”, “use of technology”, “sustainability” etc.

For more information on the Web Ratna Awards and the Awardees, log on to http://www.webratna.india.gov.in/