New Delhi: The Office of Chief Adviser Cost, Department of Expenditure (DoE), Ministry of Finance, organized a Chintan Shivir from November 28–30, 2025 at Manesar, Haryana. The event brought together officers from the Chief Adviser Cost office, the State Government of Haryana, and the Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management, facilitating discussions enriched with insights from the state public finance ecosystem.
Key Highlights of the Shivir
The Shivir commenced with an address by Pawan Kumar, Chief Adviser Cost, who stressed the importance of continuous learning and innovation in public administration. This was followed by a session on “Heartfulness Communication” by Dr. Gauri Rangra of the Heartfulness Foundation, focusing on empathetic leadership and effective stakeholder engagement.
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Day 1: Strategic Deliberations
The first day focused on two critical themes:
- Development of an International Knowledge Body
- Standardized costing for municipal services
Key recommendations were presented to V. Vualnam (IAS: 1992: MN), Secretary, DoE, highlighting persistent challenges and actionable solutions. Among the recommendations:
Establishment of a nodal cell under the DoE to develop internationally benchmarked costing frameworks, including for municipal bodies.
Engagement with local and global bodies to strengthen fiscal governance.
Vualnam provided strategic guidance, outlining time-bound steps to address challenges and emphasized the Prime Minister’s vision of involving young officers to bring fresh perspectives to future Chintan Shivirs.
Day 2: Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building
Day two began with a yoga session, followed by in-depth knowledge-sharing sessions in collaboration with academia:
- Rajiv Shorey, Director, IIIT Surat: Leveraging AI/ML for administrative efficiency, analytical rigor, and transparency.
- Prof. Naveen Sirohi, IICA: Corporate governance principles and stakeholder engagement strategies for accountability and collaboration.
- Prof. Sandeep Goel, MDI Gurgaon: Importance of forensic accounting and early detection systems for financial irregularities.
- Prof. Rishabh Aggarwal, ISB Hyderabad: Significance of public data and AI for inclusive development and equitable user-charge frameworks.
Subsequent round-table discussions explored user-charges frameworks, corporate governance, and the role of ICoAS in designing equitable pricing models and mechanisms for transparency and inclusive decision-making. Participants presented detailed analyses and theme-wise recommendations.
Significance of the Shivir
The Chintan Shivir served as a platform for innovation, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning in fiscal management. It reinforced the DoE’s commitment to enhancing governance, accountability, and efficiency in public administration while promoting youth participation and global best practices.
