The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India has incentivized the best performing Panchayats recommended by the State/UT Governments since 2011-12. The Awards are given on the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrated on 24th April every year, in the following categories:  
1. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP) are given to best performing Panchayats (District, Intermediate and Gram Panchayat) across the States/UTs in recognition of the good work that is done by PRIs at each level for improving delivery of services and public goods.
2. Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP) are given to Gram Panchayats only for their outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development by involving Gram Sabhas.
3. Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) Award was introduced during 2018, with a view to encourage the GPs which have developed their GPDPs according to the State/UT specific guidelines prepared in line with the models guidelines issued by MoPR. The award is to be given to give one GP in each State/UTs.
4. Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award (CFGPA). Keeping in view that the basic component of social development is creating a conducive atmosphere for the healthy growth and development of children, this award was announced on 1st March, 2019 for best performing Gram Panchayats (GPs)/Village Councils (VCs) (one in each State/UT) for adopting child-friendly practices.
1.  National Panchayat Awards 2019 for Child Friendly Panchayat:
Drudu Panchayat of Bhaderwah block, District Doda received the award for the best performing panchayat in Child friendly category at national level by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, on October 23, 2019. Drudu Panchayat is the only Panchayat from J&K which was awarded at the national level under the aforementioned category including the other 21 Panchayats of the rest of the states across the country. Sarpanch Ashok Kumar Sharma of Drodhu Panchayat from block Bhaderwah got the National Panchayat Award- 2019 at New Delhi from the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar.
2. Three National Awards for Effective Implementation of MGNREGA.
The Jammu Division bagged three different awards at national level for works at Gram Panchayat levels and overall effective implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme at Block levels.
The glittering award ceremony held today in C Subramanyan Hall, NASC, New Delhi in which participants from across the country represented their respective states and UTs. The ceremony was chaired by Union Minister for Rural Development Narinder Singh Tomar. Samba district was facilitated for Jal Sangrah works Best Performing Gram Panchayat for construction of structures augmenting water harvesting structures under MGNREGS”. Similarly, Block Kahara of district Doda and Block Mandi of district Poonch were conferred the prestigious award for effective implementation of MGNREGA scheme in the said blocks for GIS Asset supervisor implementation of Geo-MGNREGA initiative while Block Mandi of district Poonch was facilitated in recognition of MGNREGA Spatial Enumerator implementation of Geo-MGNREGA initiative.		  
  Two Panchayats from Jammu Division of Blocks Budhal Old and Dhangri have won two important National Awards for impressive achievements in social and economic planning and development through Gram Sabhas for the year 2019-20.
Jamola Lower Panchayat of Block Budhal Old  has been selected for Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award, 2020 whereas Dhangri Upper Panchayat of Block Dhangri  has won Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar, 2020. The awards carry cash prizes of Rs. 5 Lakh and Rs.10 Lakh respectively. Jamola Lower registered impressive achievement in engaging with all dimensions of child development. The Panchayat body particularly focused on improving immunization, enrollment, sanitation, teachers attendance, open defecation, girl child hygiene and mid day meal and displayed remarkable results. 
Dhangri Upper Panchayat saw outstanding performance through effective Gram Sabha meetings especially in respect of improvements in social and economic structure of the village. It executed planned social and economic development in a transparent way through participative democracy and ensured equal opportunity to poor, women and other marginalised groups. Both the awards have been conferred upon respective Sarpanches by the Prime Minister of India on National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2020.
Similarly two more awards have been bagged by Panchayat Rehtal and Badakana of district Rajouri under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP) in reorganization  of the work done by PRIs for improving delivery of services and public goods.