The Golden Peacock National Training Award was introduced by the Institute of Directors (IOD) New Delhi, in 1991, and is given in recognition of quality and success in training, which, in turn, leads to improved business performance. The IOD is a non-profit apex body of Indian directors representing the fields of business, industry and government.

A little on the awardee -- MCEME is the alma mater for the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Pre-partition i.e. in 1945, it was based at Kirkee near Pune, and moved to Secunderabad (Andhra Pradesh) in 1955. The college comprisesfour main bodies; the faculties of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering; Industrial Engineering and Tactics; Aeronautical Engineering; and Electronics, besides having a Simulator Development Division. On an average, 500 officers and 3,500 JCOs are trained here annually. MCEME instructs graduate as well as post-graduate engineers -- of both sexes -- at the officer level, which also includes members from friendly countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zambia, etc. Besides advanced training in computers, missiles, radars, and communication systems, the students are tutored in Time and Personnel Management. While the engineering degrees are through Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, the management courses are recognised by the All India management Association.The organisations seeking entry for the Golden Peacock Award may be from the public, private, or government sector. Each entrant must describe at length the original objectives, actual training imparted, and benefits to the trainees aswell as the organisation. The panel of judges consists of people from the top echelons of Indian industry and public sector.

The specific guidelines given to the judges include training objectives, design, delivery, and outcome, and organisational benefits. Also taken into consideration are factors such as how to enter new markets; develop a more flexible workforce; improve competitiveness; and reduce on costs, absenteeism, and administration time.