The objective of the Prime Ministers Shram Awards is to recognize the outstanding contributions made by workmen as defined in the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 in organizations both in public and private sector and who have distinguished record of performance, devotion to duty of a high order, specific contribution in the field of productivity, proven innovative abilities, presence of mind and exceptional courage and also to the workmen who have made supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives in the conscientious discharge of their duties.

The Awards will be presented to the workmen as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and employed in the Departmental Undertakings of the Central and State Governments, Central and State Public Sector Undertakings as also private sector and having minimum of 500 employees on roll and engaged in manufacturing and productive processes and whose performance is assessable. Workmen solely engaged in routine service duties would not be eligible.

1. Coverage should be given to the workers in all sectors of industry. Persons working in important Departmental/Undertakings like those under the Department of Defence Production and Supplies, Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises etc. should be given adequate coverage.

2. Adequate representation would be given to women and handicapped workers who have made outstanding contributions in the areas specified above.

3. The organizations recommending their workmen for the “PRIME MINISTER'S SHRAM AWARDS” should satisfy themselves regarding the eligibility of the workman for this prestigious National Award and issue a certificate to that effect under the signature and seal of the Head of the Organization/Chief Executive Officer where the workman is employed.

Prime Minister’s Shram Awards (PMSA) are given to workers in recognition of their distinguished performance, innovative ability, exhibition of exceptional courage and for having made supreme sacrifices in the conscientious discharge of their duties. In accordance with the procedure for selection of the awards, the Screening Committee for the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards (PMSA) for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 recommended the names for the various categories of the awards. The total awardees for Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for the years 2011 (68), 2012 (70), 2013 (40), 2014 (54), 2015 (56) and 2016 (50) are 338.