Arkaja Das, a young civil servant from Ranchi, Jharkhand, has received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

Recognising her outstanding contributions for the Poshan Tracker project of the Union Ministry of Woman & Child Development, Arkaja Das was conferred with this prestigious ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration-2024’ during the 17th Civil Services Day held in New Delhi on April 21,2025. 

Notably, this is one of the highest honours presented to her, who is Indian Postal Service officer, across the nation for exemplary civil service.

Under her leadership, the Union Ministry of Woman & Child Development has witnessed significant improvements in governance and public service delivery under the innovation (centre) category linked with Poshan Tracker Project.

Poshan Tracker Project (Abhiyaan)entails a 
Mobile App which is a job-aid to the Anganwadi worker for efficient delivery of services along with reflection of their efforts.

This mobile app has created a universe around Poshan Tracker that consists of Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Children upto six years of age and Adolescent Girls as beneficiaries.

Records revealed that at the center of this ‘universe’ are Anganwadi Workers assisted by Anganwadi Helpers who are helping make India malnutrition free. They provide possible intervention to the beneficiaries and their progress is further monitored by Supervisors, CDPOs and DPOs through daily and monthly reports.

This bureaucrat is learnt to have played a key role in effectively implementing this innovative government scheme at the grassroots level and worked extensively towards the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals. 

Arkaja Das,who is daughter of renowned doctor couple in Ranchi-surgeon Dr R.S.Das and pediatrician Dr. Sudakshina Lala,is currently Director ( Poshan Abhiyan) in the Ministry of Women and Child Development and is part of the team leading poshan tracker project across the country.