New Delhi: In a significant step towards strengthening leadership development and knowledge-sharing within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has decided to organise the first-ever IAS Mentorship Meet at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on October 31, 2026, coinciding with Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).
The initiative aims to bring together senior and young IAS officers from across the country for structured interactions, mentorship sessions and discussions on governance, public administration and policymaking. The programme is being organised in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering meaningful engagement between experienced civil servants and the younger generation of officers.
Inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s Suggestion
The proposal traces its origins to the National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in December last year, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that senior officers from the IAS and other civil services should regularly interact with younger officers and inspire them through mentorship and experience-sharing.
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The Prime Minister had specifically proposed that senior officers visit the Statue of Unity, dedicated to India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and spend a day every year on October 31 interacting with younger officers to pass on administrative wisdom and leadership lessons.
Acting on this suggestion, the DoPT has now formalised the initiative and communicated with all states and Union Territories regarding participation in the inaugural IAS Mentorship Meet.
States and UTs Asked to Nominate Officers
According to the DoPT’s communication, all state governments and Union Territory administrations have been requested to nominate both senior and young IAS officers for the programme.
The department has recommended selecting officers from different batches and administrative backgrounds to ensure a rich exchange of experiences and perspectives. Officers with expertise in governance, public administration, policy formulation, public service delivery, innovation and developmental administration are expected to participate.
The initiative is intended to create a platform where younger officers can learn directly from the experiences, challenges and best practices of senior civil servants who have served in diverse capacities across the country.
Focus on Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing
The IAS Mentorship Meet is envisioned as a structured platform for:
- Leadership development among young officers
- Sharing of governance innovations and best practices
- Discussions on policy formulation and implementation
- Learning from administrative experiences across states
- Strengthening institutional memory within the civil services
- Promoting values of public service and ethical governance
The mentorship sessions are expected to cover a wide range of subjects, including district administration, crisis management, technology-driven governance, public policy, citizen-centric service delivery and emerging governance challenges.
Why the Statue of Unity?
The venue carries deep symbolic significance. The Statue of Unity, located at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who played a pivotal role in integrating the princely states after Independence and is widely regarded as the architect of India’s political unity.
The DoPT noted that holding the mentorship programme on Patel’s birth anniversary reinforces the ideals of national integration, administrative commitment and public service that he embodied.
The choice of October 31, celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, is intended to inspire officers by connecting them with the legacy of one of India’s greatest nation-builders.
State Governments to Make Necessary Arrangements
The DoPT has clarified that the responsibility for facilitating participation and making logistical arrangements for the nominated officers will rest with the respective state governments and Union Territory administrations.
States will coordinate travel and other administrative requirements to ensure smooth participation in the event.
Strengthening the Future Leadership of Civil Services
The initiative is being viewed as a significant step toward institutionalising mentorship within the IAS. By facilitating direct interaction between seasoned administrators and younger officers, the government aims to create a culture of continuous learning, knowledge transfer and professional development.
The programme is also expected to help younger officers gain practical insights into governance challenges while benefiting from the experiences of officers who have handled major administrative assignments at district, state and national levels.
As India continues to navigate increasingly complex governance challenges, the IAS Mentorship Meet could emerge as an important annual platform for nurturing future administrative leadership while preserving the institutional wisdom accumulated over decades of public service.
