Association for Democratic Reforms has been nominated in the Public Service  Category for  "Outstanding Performance in Making the Indian Electoral Process more transparent and fair."

The winner would be selected based on voting by general public and an eminent panel put together by CNN IBN. The first tier consists of CNN IBN's Editorial team who drew a list of nominees. This list was then ratified by the second tier constituting of eminent Indians who are all recipients of India’s highest state honours like Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Currently votes are being cast by the general public and an Electoral College that constitutes over 150 eminent Indian citizens who are extraordinary performers in their own fields and are primarily the intelligentsia of the country.