2025

Second Edition of the Awards

The second edition of the Civis Public Consultation Awards (CIPCA) was hosted in 2025, building on the philosophy of the inaugural edition in 2024
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The Awards celebrate ministries, state governments, and statutory bodies that have gone beyond compliance to meaningfully engage citizens in law and policymaking.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, CIPCA saw a significant rise in consultations, demonstrating its growing adoption across ministries and states.
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Advancing Participatory Governance Practices

The Second Edition of the Awards reflected on how far the consultation ecosystem had evolved in just a single year.
While continuing to recognise inclusive, transparent, and citizen-oriented consultations, it placed added emphasis on assessing the capacity of government bodies to design and manage consultations effectively. By focusing not only on outcomes but also on institutional readiness, the Awards underscored the importance of building long-term systems for participatory lawmaking.
288 +
Consultations evaluated across sectors
25 +
Shortlisted consultations recognised
64%
Growth in consultations evaluated
3 +
Stakeholder groups engaged

‍Glimpses from the Ceremony

The 2025 Awards Ceremony carried forward the spirit of the inaugural edition, while also breaking new ground. One of the unique features of this edition was the focus on government capacity.

This emphasis moved the conversation beyond individual consultations, towards building durable practices that could transform governance in the long run. Bringing together senior officials, academics, and civic-tech practitioners, the 2025 Awards ceremony created a stage for deliberative dialogue on fostering accountability, encouraging innovation, and inspiring governments to go beyond compliance requirements in engaging citizens.

Jury

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Dr. M.S
Sahoo
Founding Chairperson, Insolvency & Bankruptcy, Board of India (IBBI)
Regulatory reform expert leading insolvency, securities market, and governance transformation initiatives.
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Dr. Ajay
Shah
Co-founder, XKDR Forum, & Founder & Chief Editor – LEAP Blog
Economist and policy scholar focused on governance, finance, and economic reforms.
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Smt. Snehlata
Shrivastava
Former Secretary General, Lok Sabha
Former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and IAS officer with leadership across justice, finance, and governance.

Amicus Curae

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Ms. Eloise
Gabadou
Strategic advisor in civic technologies and democratic innovations
Civic tech strategist designing participatory democracy and digital governance initiatives globally.

Keynote Speakers & Panelists

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Dr. KP
Krishnan
Former Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Former IAS officer and policy expert specialising in governance, regulation, and economic reform.
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Shri P.K.
Malhotra
Former Law Secretary, Government of India
SAT member, Law Commission expert, Delhi University gold medalist in international law.
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Dr. Deepak
Mohanty
Chairperson, PFRDA
Former RBI Executive Director, IMF advisor, and economist with extensive policy experience.
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Mr. Adil
Zainulbhai
Former Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission
Former McKinsey India chairman, IIT Ropar board chair, and Quality Council of India leader.
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Jury
Amicus Curae
Keynote Speakers & Panelists
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The Consultation Stalwarts

CIPCA 2025 evaluated 288 consultations across 10 parameters—covering document quality, engagement scope, inclusivity, and open governance. From these, 25 consultations were nominated.

Meet the winners here!
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Best Consultation – Ministry

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Recognised for its notably long 60-day feedback period, this consultation ensured greater citizen participation. The draft Rules introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for managing used oil. This consultation also took strides in providing a clear context for the amendment, addressing the rapid waste generation and showcasing how a circular economy approach could mitigate environmental impacts.

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Best Consultation - Ministry

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
for
Draft Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2023
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Best Consultation – State

Government of Kerala

Recognised for its accessible and engaging format, this consultation sought to strengthen Kerala’s digital ecosystem by advancing the IT, electronics, and space sectors. The draft was presented in simple language, supported by data, charts, and financial details that made complex provisions easy to follow. To widen participation, the department also led an active social media outreach campaign, ensuring that the consultation reached a broad and diverse audience. 

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Best Consultation – State

Government of Kerala
for
Draft Kerala IT Policy, 2023
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Best Consultation – Statutory Body

Draft Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Recognised for its focus on simplification and accessibility, this consultation revised provisions for the waiver of transmission charges, especially for renewable energy projects, and introduced guidelines for transmission system availability. What set it apart was the release of an Explanatory Memorandum after the draft was opened for comments, making the provisions easier for stakeholders to understand. The Commission also extended the feedback deadline, demonstrating its commitment to meaningful engagement and informed participation

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Best Consultation – Statutory Body

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
for
Draft Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Sharing of Inter-State Transmission Charges and Losses) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2022
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Special Mention – Citizen-Government Engagement

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India‍

Recognised for expanding reach beyond domestic borders, this consultation introduced revised standards for low-alcohol and ready-to-drink beverages by revising definitions for Indian liquors, mixed beverages, labeling norms, and safety guidelines. FSSAI set itself apart by opening the draft for comments not just in India, but also through the World Trade Organization, thereby inviting global stakeholder input. The feedback process was streamlined via FSSAI’s own digital platform, improving accessibility and ease of participation.

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Special Mention – Citizen Engagement

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
for
Draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations, 2023
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Special Mention – Responsive Governance

Competition Commission of India‍

Commended for transparency in decision-making, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) proposed reduced penalties to incentivise voluntary disclosure of anti-competitive practices. What elevated this consultation was CCI’s General Statement, published alongside the draft, which presented stakeholder statistics, detailed comments received, and rationales explaining how inputs shaped the final text. This clear mapping of suggestion and response demonstrated a commitment to transparency and accountability in regulatory reform.

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Special Mention – Responsive Governance

Competition Commission of India
for
Draft CCI (Lesser Penalty) Regulations 2023
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Special Mention – Responsive Governance

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority‍

Celebrated for deepening responsiveness, this consultation refined the grievance handling framework for pension subscribers. The draft Regulations addressed response timelines, escalation pathways, and transparency in resolution processes. Publication of public responses received and comprehensive responses to RTI requests made the process more accountable and transparent, embodying the values of participatory and responsive regulation.Illy handed over to the end user in Q4 of 2015 (180 KM) and MSA were awarded the second phase in 2016 (140 KM) which was completed Q2 of 2021.

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Special Mention – Responsive Governance

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
for
Draft Amendments to the PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations, 2015
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