Jaipur/New Delhi: In a historic first, V. Srinivas, a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre and the current Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), has been elected President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) for the 2025–2028 term.
This marks the first time in 75 years that an Indian civil servant has been elected to this prestigious global post, signaling India’s growing leadership in international governance and public administration reform.
Nomination Backed by PM Modi, Landslide Win for India
Mr Srinivas was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting India’s strategic commitment to advancing global standards in governance and civil services.
In the elections held simultaneously in India and Austria on June 3, India secured 61.7% of the votes, defeating Austria’s state representative, Dr. Alexander Balthazar, who received 38.3%. The wide margin demonstrates strong international support for India’s leadership at the IIAS.
What is IIAS?
The International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) is a global non-profit organization headquartered in Brussels. It comprises:
- 31 member countries
- 20 national sections
- 15 academic and research institutions
Prominent members include Japan, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Switzerland.
Founded in 1930, IIAS serves as a global forum for promoting administrative best practices, comparative governance studies, and knowledge exchange among civil services worldwide.
A Recognition of India’s Reform Credentials
V. Srinivas’s election reflects international recognition of India’s administrative reforms, digital governance initiatives, and enhanced role in shaping global public policy dialogues.
In his role as Secretary, DARPG, Srinivas has led initiatives such as–
- Centralized Public Grievance Redressal mechanisms
- Digital governance frameworks
- Capacity-building programs for bureaucrats
- Good governance indices and benchmarking
