ICMR-MINDS: Gold at National e-Governance Awards 2026
Why in the news
The Indian Council of Medical Research’s digital mental health initiative was honoured with a Gold at the national e-governance awards held in Jaipur.
Award snapshot
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | Gold |
| Category | Category 2, covering AI and other emerging-tech innovations that serve citizens |
| Series | National Awards for e-Governance 2026 |
| Instituted by | DARPG, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions |
| Venue and dates | 29th National Conference on e-Governance, Jaipur, 1-2 July 2026 |
| Presented by | Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS (Independent Charge), Personnel |
About ICMR-MINDS
- Treated by ICMR as a National Health Research Priority project.
- An implementation research effort that folds mental and substance-use disorder care into NCD services.
- Runs on an AI-enabled Clinical Decision Support System.
- Enables task-shifting: trained non-specialist frontline workers handle screening, assessment, follow-up and routine management.
- Currently implemented in seven states through seven partner institutions.
About the awards
- Started in 2003 by DARPG.
- Handed out at the yearly National Conference on e-Governance.
- Cover governments, PSUs, academia and industry.
- Levels: Gold, Silver and Merit/Jury awards.
About ICMR
- Set up in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association; renamed ICMR in 1949.
- Headquartered in New Delhi, under the Department of Health Research.
- Director General: Dr Rajiv Bahl, in post since October 2023.
Exam angle
- Awarding department: DARPG.
- Award category: Category 2 (AI and new-age tech).
- Core technology: Clinical Decision Support System.