https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Project Badlav: Empowering Tomorrow’s Civil Servants with Innovative Solutions

Started by UPSC CSE-23 passouts, Project Badlav pioneers innovation in civil service training. It redefines collaborative governance efforts for the betterment of India's people.
Indian Masterminds Stories

After passing the UPSC Civil Services Examination, candidates proceed to LBSNAA for the foundation course, marking the beginning of their training. Upon completion, they officially become officers and embark on their careers, often initiating projects that bring about positive change in people’s lives. However, even before the foundation course for the successful candidates of UPSC CSE-23 has commenced, many have already launched an initiative called Project Badlav. This endeavor aims not only to benefit the general public in the future but also to guide incoming trainee officers.

Project Badlaav serves as a repository for innovative ideas and best practices from around the world that can be implemented within the officers’ domains during their tenure. It provides a platform for serious discussions on how these new officers can tackle significant governance issues, sharing the impactful work they have done or will do throughout their careers.

This project was initiated by a few graduates of UPSC CSE-23, including Rishabh Jain, who secured the 377th rank this year and was one of the core founders. This initiative really outlines a proactive and innovative approach taken by this year’s passouts to prepare themselves for their future roles as civil servants.

Indian Masterminds recently interviewed Mr. Jain to gain insights into this innovative endeavor.

THE IDEA: PROJECT BADLAV

Every year, all candidates who successfully clear the UPSC CSE attend the foundation course at LBSNAA, which lasts for about three and a half months. Following the foundation course, they proceed to their respective academies based on their cadre, such as IAS, IPS, IRS, or IFS, for further training.

Rishabh said that the objective was to establish a platform where we could familiarize ourselves with various initiatives and engage in projects representing our cohort. 

“This meant that in the years ahead, while working after our postings, if we were to undertake any initiatives, we would already have a groundwork established during our training to support us. This platform would educate us in ways that would prove beneficial in the future. The central idea is to foster camaraderie among all services right from the foundation course itself,” he added. 

What’s remarkable is that individuals here come from diverse backgrounds—some are engineers, others are doctors, and some are CAs – endowing them with extensive knowledge on various issues and potential solutions. In Project Badlva, a repository is being curated to document their best practices. This repository will serve as a valuable resource for batch members who wish to undertake initiatives after their postings.

Furthermore, a repository is being developed to compile best governance practices from around the world. Even after the batch officers have been posted, a repository of their ongoing work will be maintained. This will facilitate the sharing of initiatives among batch members. 

This repository and project will remain a lifelong journey, which will keep us well knit as a team of officers and provide us with an intellectual bank of ideas to implement in our postings. The agenda for this group will be enhanced and widened along the same lines.

He said, “This will be the 99th foundation course (FC) batch in LBSNAA. Despite not having met in person yet, we initiated Project Badlav through discussions among ourselves. These conversations led us to realize the necessity of such a project.”

Rishabh Jain with his mother

INSTITUTIONALIZATION

The aim is to institutionalize Project Badlav soon. Currently, a repository of governance best practices is being compiled. However, the plan is for it to become institutionalized and formalized once all the batchmates convene at LBSNAA. Moreover, it will be extended to future batches. Project Badlav is envisioned to become an integral part of every foundation course.

Rishabh elaborates that even before assuming civil service roles, candidates undergo extensive study. The objective is to translate that knowledge into practical solutions on the ground. If anyone encounters governance-related challenges after their posting, the repository prepared by the 99th FC batch will serve as a valuable resource. It will provide them with the best solutions or practices relevant to their issues.

MAKING CONNECTIONS 

Rishabh and his team are gearing up to establish various channels, including a website and a unified grievance redressal portal, to efficiently address issues. They intend to kickstart these initiatives as soon as they commence the foundation course.

While the plan hasn’t fully materialized yet due to the batch not commencing, it’s already in motion. Over 500 batchmates have been enlisted for participation.

To connect with each other, Rishabh mentioned that they initially formed a WhatsApp group for candidates who had qualified for interviews after the mains result. Subsequently, once the final results were confirmed through e-summary letters, they established a dedicated group specifically for successful candidates. This process was entirely community-driven, organized, and managed by the selected candidates themselves.

He said, “A website dedicated to Project Badlav is currently in the works, and alongside this development, a core committee will be established. This committee will facilitate meetings to ensure decisions are made through a democratic process.” 

A view of LBSNAA in Mussoorie

WITH PRACTICAL

Rishab explains that Project Badlav is compiling a repository of best practices and solutions from around the world to address recent environmental challenges. For instance, citing the example of World Environment Day, he highlights discussions on global afforestation practices and associated issues.

During these discussions, numerous solutions were proposed to conserve water, resulting in the creation of a repository. One notable suggestion involved addressing the inefficiency of RO systems, which waste 3 liters of water to purify just one liter. The proposed solution entails implementing a system to collect this wasted water for various purposes, from washing to watering plants.

Project Badlav aims to curate a repository containing a multitude of such innovative ideas. This repository will serve as a valuable resource, enabling individuals to seamlessly sync with it and implement effective solutions in their respective areas of work.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
BPCL_resized
BPCL’s Sanjay Khanna Conferred with “TITAN - Refining Innovation Award” for Pioneering Excellence in HSE and Refining
Vartika Shukla CMD of EIL (1)
Vartika Shukla, CMD of EIL, Honored with Women’s Leadership Award at IOGTC 2025 - Know About Her
Judiciary_india
Karnataka Bar Council Urges Supreme Court Collegium to Reconsider Transfer of Four High Court Judges
NTPC Green Energy Ltd NGEL
NTPC Green Board to Consider Rs 5,000 Crore Bond Issue in FY26
Govt
5 Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand Secretariat
Indian Oil IOCL
Indian Oil to Invest Rs. 24,000 Crore in Gujarat for Refinery Expansion and Petrochemical Projects
IFS Indian Forest Service resized (IFoS)
14 IFS and 6 State Forest Service Officers Transferred in Madhya Pradesh, HU Khan Made CF&CEO (CAMPA) at HQ, Bhopal
Concor and gail MoU
CONCOR and GAIL Sign MoU to Promote Clean Fuel and Green Logistics
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
The Shouts of Joy Were Real: Aditya’s UPSC Rank 9 Was a Family Celebration
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
The Shouts of Joy Were Real: Aditya’s UPSC Rank 9 Was a Family Celebration
“UPSC is not the only path. If you are in any field… UPSC is not the only way to serve the nation. Be...
Raj Krishna Jha UPSC
Managing Study with a Full-Time Job, 4 Failures, & a Dream: UPSC Topper Raj Krishna Jha's Journey | Exclusive
From repeated failures to AIR 8, Raj Krishna Jha’s UPSC success proves that perseverance and strategic...
Utkarsh Yadav UPSC Rajasthan
Brother of Dausa DM Cracks UPSC with AIR 32: Utkarsh Yadav’s Inspiring Journey from Hamindpur to IAS
Utkarsh Yadav, an IIT Roorkee graduate from rural Rajasthan, secured AIR 32 in UPSC 2024 after three...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
BPCL_resized
BPCL’s Sanjay Khanna Conferred with “TITAN - Refining Innovation Award” for Pioneering Excellence in HSE and Refining
Vartika Shukla CMD of EIL (1)
Vartika Shukla, CMD of EIL, Honored with Women’s Leadership Award at IOGTC 2025 - Know About Her
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT