The Government of India has unveiled the winners of the prestigious Anubhav Awards 2025, an initiative that honors the contributions of retiring and retired government employees by recognizing their experiences in public service. The awards, which will be conferred by the Union Minister of State for the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on August 18, 2025, highlight the government’s commitment to valuing institutional knowledge and fostering transparency in governance.
Launched in March 2015 under the directive of the Prime Minister, the Anubhav platform was created to document the insights and experiences of retiring personnel, providing valuable reflections on government functioning. Since its inception, a total of 59 Anubhav Awards and 19 Jury Certificates have been conferred.
The 2025 edition of the National Anubhav Awards Scheme is particularly significant as it has, for the first time, expanded its eligibility beyond central government employees to include personnel from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs), recognizing their role in national development. This expansion resulted in a record-breaking 1,459 write-ups being published, covering insights from 42 Ministries, Departments, and Organizations—an increase from 30 in the previous year.
Following a rigorous two-tier evaluation process, five distinguished retirees have been selected as Anubhav Award winners: Hukum Singh Meena, Additional Secretary in the Department of Land Resources; Shalini Kacker, Chief General Manager at SBI; M. Venkatesan, Officer on Special Duty to the Minister of State (PMO); O. Virupakshappa, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices; and Saju P.K, Head Constable of the CRPF.
Additionally, ten Jury Certificates will be awarded to Jai Prakash Srivastava, Director at BHEL; Vinod P, Scientist G at DRDO; Jolly Dhar, Outstanding Scientist in the Department of Space; Sunitha Cherodath, Special DG at the Department of Telecommunications; Sabu Sebastian M, Scientist G at DRDO; Velaga Kumari, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Jal Shakti; Santosh Gawli, Head Constable GD at ITBP; Balam Singh Rawat, Deputy Commandant at CRPF; S Meenakshi Sundaram, Inspector/Pharmacist at CRPF; and Sheela Rani Poddar, Sub-Inspector GD at CRPF.
The awards, which will be presented at a national-level event in New Delhi, underscore the government’s dedication to preserving institutional wisdom and ensuring that the contributions of retired officials continue to benefit policymaking.
The expansion of the awards to include CPSEs and PSBs reflects a broader effort to recognize a wider spectrum of contributions to governance and administration. The Anubhav Outreach Program, which played a key role in encouraging participation, will continue to serve as a vital platform for fostering engagement and knowledge-sharing among retired personnel.
By acknowledging their experiences and insights, the Anubhav Awards serve as a bridge between past and present, ensuring that valuable lessons continue to shape the future of governance in India.
