New Delhi: In a major move towards creating a robust and future-ready leadership pipeline within India’s Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) and the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore and Egon Zehnder, marking the launch of the second cohort of the prestigious DAKSH Leadership Program.
The agreement was signed by Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE; S.P. Roy, Joint Secretary, CBC; Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore; and Rahul Rana, Partner, Egon Zehnder. The signing ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, CBC (virtually); Alka Mittal, Member, CBC; Ayush Gupta, Director (HR), GAIL; and K.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), SAIL, along with senior officials from CBC, SCOPE, and other PSEs.
DAKSH: Grooming PSE Leaders for Strategic and Board-Level Roles
The DAKSH Leadership Program is a flagship initiative that brings together India’s top public sector talent to undergo intensive training and development, preparing them for strategic and board-level roles in the PSE ecosystem.
For the second batch, IIM Indore will serve as the Academic Partner, while Egon Zehnder, a globally reputed leadership advisory firm, will act as the Knowledge Partner. The collaboration aims to blend academic rigor with global executive search and leadership development insights to empower high-potential leaders with the skills and strategic thinking needed to lead India’s evolving public enterprises.
First Batch Underway with McKinsey and IIM Ahmedabad
The first batch of DAKSH, launched earlier, includes around 75 senior executives from across India’s PSE landscape and is currently undergoing advanced leadership training with McKinsey & Company as Knowledge Partner and IIM Ahmedabad as Academic Partner.
Leadership Speak
Speaking on the occasion, Atul Sobti, DG, SCOPE, emphasized the importance of capacity building to transform PSEs into globally competitive enterprises:
“The DAKSH program reflects our commitment to investing in leadership that can steer India’s PSEs into the future. Collaborating with top institutions like IIM Indore and Egon Zehnder ensures global benchmarks are brought into public sector leadership training.”
Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, echoed the sentiment, noting the significance of customized executive education for public sector leaders:
“Through this partnership, we aim to blend values-based leadership with strategic acumen, preparing executives for the complex and dynamic challenges of public sector governance.”
Read Also: SCOPE and HSSC Join Hands to Enhance Skills in Hydrocarbon Sector
About DAKSH Leadership Program
DAKSH is part of a broader vision by the Government of India to modernize and professionalize leadership across its PSEs. The program is curated specifically for high-performing executives and includes modules on strategic leadership, innovation, ethics, governance, and change management.
The initiative is expected to build a cadre of mission-ready leaders capable of guiding public enterprises through digital transformation, global competition, and sustainable development challenges.
