Mussoorie: Calling for a new generation of civil servants equipped with adaptive leadership, technological competence and a spirit of continuous learning, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s vast diversity should serve as a source of administrative strength rather than a governance challenge.
Addressing the valedictory session of the 21st Round of the Phase-IV Mid-Career Training Programme (MCTP)for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, the Minister said the country’s next phase of governance would depend on continuous learning, institutional innovation and citizen-centric reforms.
The four-week programme, conducted from June 15 to July 10 under Mission Karmayogi, brought together 51 IAS officers from different cadres across the country, each with more than 14 years of administrative experience, for advanced capacity building. LBSNAA Director Sriram Taranikanti, senior faculty members and distinguished resource persons also attended the concluding session.
Administrative Diversity Should Become a National Strength
Dr Singh emphasised that every Indian State has unique administrative realities shaped by geography, culture, language, political circumstances and developmental priorities. Because governance challenges differ significantly across regions, he said officers must actively exchange experiences and replicate successful administrative innovations across cadres.
He noted that every State has developed solutions tailored to its local needs, and greater interaction among officers would enable these best practices to be adapted elsewhere, strengthening governance across the country.
According to the Minister, India’s diversity is reflected not only in society but also in its governance systems, making collaborative learning essential for building an agile and future-ready civil service.
Training Should Be a Two-Way Learning Process
Breaking away from the traditional lecture format, Dr Singh interacted directly with the participating officers instead of delivering a conventional address.
He observed that officers with nearly two decades of field experience possess invaluable administrative knowledge that should help shape future governance reforms and training programmes. Such programmes, he said, should increasingly become platforms for mutual learning where experienced officers contribute their practical insights while also upgrading their own skills.
#Mussoorie:
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 10, 2026
Floral tributes to the Iron Man of India, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who coined the phrase “steel frame” for Indian Administrative Service.
Very aptly, Sardar Saheb’s statue adorns the lawns of #LBSNAA Academy of Administration. pic.twitter.com/3osVueigRT
Mission Karmayogi Has Changed the Philosophy of Civil Services
Highlighting the impact of Mission Karmayogi, Dr Singh said the programme has fundamentally transformed capacity building within the civil services.
Rather than focusing on rule-based administration, Mission Karmayogi promotes role-based governance, enabling officers to acquire competencies required for evolving governance challenges.
He said the iGOT Karmayogi digital learning platform has institutionalised continuous learning across government, allowing officers at every level to regularly enhance their knowledge, skills and professional competencies.
Technology, Transparency and Trust Driving Governance Reforms
The Minister said governance reforms over the past decade have been driven by bold policy decisions backed by technology, transparency and trust in citizens.
Highlighting major initiatives, he said reforms such as:
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
- Digital Public Infrastructure
- JAM Trinity
- CPGRAMS
have significantly improved service delivery, enhanced transparency and reduced leakages.
He noted that Direct Benefit Transfer alone has generated savings exceeding ₹3.4 lakh crore by eliminating leakages, while India’s digital governance ecosystem has earned widespread global recognition.
India Emerging as a Global Technology Leader
Dr Singh said India is no longer merely adopting technology developed elsewhere but is increasingly emerging as a global leader in frontier technologies.
Referring to initiatives including the National Quantum Mission, the country’s expanding startup ecosystem, the opening of the space sector to private participation and recent reforms in the nuclear sector, he said these developments demonstrate India’s transition towards innovation-led growth and technology-driven development.
He added that the traditional divide between the public and private sectors has gradually evolved into a collaborative development model where government increasingly acts as an enabler instead of merely a regulator.
The rapid growth of startups and private participation in the space sector, he said, reflects the confidence generated through this approach.
Technology Must Be Complemented by Human Sensitivity
While underscoring the importance of technological advancement, the Minister said governance reforms achieve real meaning only when combined with compassion and human sensitivity.
He highlighted several personnel reforms introduced in recent years, including:
- Greater flexibility in family pension nomination.
- Extension of maternity-related benefits in cases of stillbirth.
- Removal of provisions denying family pension to dependents of government employees who died before completing the prescribed qualifying service.
These reforms, he said, demonstrate the government’s commitment to citizen-centric and welfare-oriented governance.
Civil Services Training Must Continuously Evolve
Dr Singh called for regular modernisation of civil services training through stronger institutional collaboration, more diverse faculty participation and curricula that keep pace with technological and societal change.
He particularly encouraged greater involvement of younger serving officers as faculty members, observing that officers currently serving in districts and ministries often possess the most relevant and contemporary administrative experience for future civil servants.
Communication Skills Are Now Essential for Administrators
The Minister also stressed the growing importance of communication in public administration.
A district officer today, he said, must effectively engage with citizens, media organisations and the political executive, each requiring a different communication approach.
As governance increasingly becomes more participative and transparent, administrators must adopt modern communication practices while maintaining accountability and public trust.
Promoting Feedback and a Less Hierarchical Administrative Culture
Advocating a more interactive training ecosystem, Dr Singh recommended structured and anonymous participant feedback to continuously improve faculty quality, course design and programme delivery.
He also called for reducing hierarchical barriers within the administrative system, saying learning should never be restricted by seniority.
Sharing his own experience, the Minister said he regularly interacts with officers across different levels because innovative ideas often emerge from those working closest to implementation.
According to him, the willingness to remain a lifelong learner is one of the defining qualities of effective leadership.
Towards Viksit Bharat 2047
Concluding his address, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that India’s diversity—across regions, languages, cultures, political environments and developmental aspirations—must become a source of administrative innovation.
Expressing confidence in the participating IAS officers, he said they would strengthen inter-state learning, promote innovative and citizen-centric governance, and carry forward the values of continuous learning and adaptive leadership as India progresses towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
