Civis Public Consultation Awards

This category recognises exemplary consultations conducted by Union Ministries. It highlights cases where ministries have gone beyond procedural compliance to embrace openness, inclusivity, and responsiveness in the policymaking process. Winning consultations in this category set benchmarks for how central policies can be shaped with citizen voice at their core.

This category honours state governments that demonstrate leadership in participatory governance. It acknowledges states that make draft policies accessible, invite diverse stakeholder input, and adapt consultation practices to local contexts. By celebrating state-level innovation, the award encourages replication and cross-learning among states.

This category is dedicated to statutory and regulatory bodies that conduct consultations in sectors ranging from finance to environment. It rewards efforts to simplify technical issues, ensure fairness, and create trust between regulators and stakeholders. Consultations recognised here showcase how specialised bodies can balance technical depth with public participation.

The ‘Responsive Governance’ special category award seeks to recognise responsive governance. It acknowledges those consultations fostering open platforms, actively involving the public, and adapting based on feedback, exemplifying transparent and citizen-centric governance change.

The ‘Sustained Excellence’ category applauds a consultation body’s continued excellence in engaging the public. The awardee is celebrated for consistently connecting with the public on various issues, building trust through ongoing dialogue, and using diverse methods for a meaningful exchange of ideas, ultimately improving governance quality.

The 2025 Awards came up with the ‘Citizen-Government Engagement’ category to celebrate a government body’s commitment to inclusive and participatory governance. This category focused on consultations demonstrating exceptional outreach, engaging key stakeholders, and creating diverse opportunities for meaningful citizen participation.

The ‘Special Mention - Volume of Consultations’ category is a recognition awarded to institutions that consistently conduct public consultations ahead of regulatory action. This special mention highlights bodies where consultation is integrated into routine policymaking, reflecting a sustained commitment to seeking public input across laws and policy initiatives introduced within a given financial year.