All India Radio's website – www.newsonair.nic.in – has been conferred with gold web ratna award for outstanding content in news dissemination. Conferring this year's awards, Communications and Information Technology minister, Kapil Sibal called for electronic sharing of information and data by the government departments both at the centre and the state levels. Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy's official website that provides round the clock call centre facility won gold web ratna in public participation initiative category. The National Institute of Open Schooling was awarded the platinum web ratna award for outstanding content while as Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity bagged gold web ratna for innovative use of technology. The awards, instituted by National Informatics Center, acknowledge and promote exemplary e-governance initiatives using the worldwide web for delivery of government services to make the life of a citizen easier. This year's awards were conferred in six different categories, which touch upon different aspects of e-governance.

Communications and Information Technology minister, Kapil Sibal urged for promoting e-governance initiatives and harnessing the worldwide web for delivery of government services to the people. He said, online sharing of data information can ensure accountability and help detect corrupt practices .
Minister of State of Communications and IT Milind Deora said the government is taking several steps to facilitate delivery of services to people in a simple, affordable and convenient way.
Secretary in the ministry of Communications and IT, J Satyanarayana said, web ratna awards not only encourage e-governance initiatives but also motivate innovative use of IT to bring public services at the doorsteps of citizens.

The e-governance drive in the country for the last three decades has been instrumental in ensuring better and more transparent governance and assisting the government's endeavour to reach the unreached.