Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025 to wins gold at national awards

Lucknow: The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025 has earned national recognition, with the Uttar Pradesh govt’s flagship event set to receive the Gold Award at the National e-Governance Awards 2026, marking a major milestone in digital governance and large-scale event management.

The awards will be formally presented during the 29th National e-Governance Conference in Jaipur, where leading governance innovations from across the country will be honoured.

The award, conferred by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Govt of India, recognises innovative projects that enhance transparency, efficiency and citizen-centric service delivery through technology. This year, 17 initiatives across seven categories were selected, with Maha Kumbh 2025 emerging as one of the standout projects.

Executed by the Prayagraj Mela Authority, the Maha Kumbh project has been acknowledged for successfully integrating advanced digital systems into the management of what is widely regarded as the world’s largest religious gathering.

Officials said technology was deployed extensively across multiple domains, including crowd management, security, traffic regulation, surveillance and real-time information dissemination. Digital platforms helped streamline the movement of millions of devotees, ensuring safer and more efficient operations throughout the event.

The recognition is being seen as a major endorsement of the Yogi Adityanath govt’s push for technology-driven governance. By blending tradition with modern systems, the Maha Kumbh has set what officials describe as a national benchmark for managing mega public events, a govt spokesperson said.

The project’s selection alongside initiatives such as the agriculture ministry’s Agri Stack, the health ministry’s e-Sanjeevani AI system, and digital platforms from Isro and Bank of Baroda underscores its significance in the country’s evolving e-governance ecosystem.

Officials highlighted that the use of digital tools significantly improved public convenience, safety and access to services, drawing widespread appreciation at the national level. The model is now likely to serve as a template for similar large-scale events across India.

Under the awards framework, 10 Gold, 6 Silver and one Jury Award will be presented. Gold winners will receive a trophy, certificate and a financial incentive of ₹10 lakh, intended to further strengthen public service delivery and bridge resource gaps.

With this recognition, Maha Kumbh 2025 not only reinforces Uttar Pradesh’s administrative capabilities but also highlights how technology can transform the management of mass gatherings into a globally replicable governance model.