Dr. N. Vijayaditya, Director-General NIC received the Skoch Challenger-2005 Award for 'ICT Man of the Year' from Sh. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission at a function held in the Capital on 17th February, 2005. Skoch is a multinational Strategy and Management Consultancy Company actively working towards ICT led competitive advantage that India possesses across segments. Every year, Skoch confers the Challenger Awards to people, projects, organizations & technologies that went the extra mile and made an impact in India's ICT led competitive advantage. The awards recognize and acknowledge excellence and exemplary efforts made by individuals and organizations for their contribution in key areas such as e-governance, BFSI, academic excellence, ICT penetration, affordable computing & innovation. Every year hundreds of "best-in-class" contenders compete for recognition at the Challenger Awards.