Chandigarh: In a significant step towards strengthening people-centric governance and administrative accountability, Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab, held an extensive interactive session with officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other All India and Central Services undergoing training at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA).
The interaction took place as part of the Special Foundation Course (SFC) being conducted for officers of the 2021 batch, marking a rare and notable engagement between the state’s political leadership and young civil servants at an early stage of their careers.
What are the Major Highlights of Punjab CM Interactive Session at MGSIPA
During the session, Chief Minister Mann underlined that authority in public service must always be accompanied by responsibility. He stressed that governance should not be measured merely by policies and files, but by the tangible impact on citizens’ lives, especially those at the grassroots level.
Addressing the officers, Mann urged them to ensure that every administrative decision translates into real relief and measurable benefits for the common people. He highlighted that public trust in institutions grows only when officers remain accessible, empathetic, and solution-oriented.
> “Governance must be judged by its impact on citizens’ lives. Power without accountability has no place in a democratic system,” the Chief Minister remarked during the interaction.
Special Foundation Course at MGSIPA: A Landmark Initiative
The officers attending the session are part of a 10-week Special Foundation Course (SFC) being conducted at MGSIPA in collaboration with the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.
This course includes officers from multiple premier services, such as:
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Forest Service (IFS)
- Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax and Customs)
- Indian Postal Service
- Indian Information Service
- Indian Civil Accounts Service
- Indian P&T Finance Service
- Indian Trade Service
- Indian Corporate Law Service
The Chief Minister noted that this is the first time MGSIPA has been entrusted with conducting a Special Foundation Course on behalf of LBSNAA, a responsibility traditionally handled by national-level academies.
MGSIPA Recognized Among Top State Training Institutes
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Mann said that LBSNAA’s decision to select MGSIPA reflects the high quality of its infrastructure, faculty, and academic ecosystem.
He pointed out that MGSIPA has now emerged as one of the top five State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) in the country.
This recognition, he added, places Punjab prominently on the national administrative training map and opens new avenues for institutional collaboration and capacity building.
Chandigarh as a Learning Environment for Young Officers – CM Mann
Welcoming the officer trainees to Chandigarh, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the training is being held in a city known for its planned development, administrative heritage, and cultural diversity. He described Chandigarh as an ideal environment for young officers to learn the values of discipline, inclusivity, and efficient governance.
Mann encouraged the trainees to use their time in Punjab to understand the ground realities of governance, including rural development challenges, social welfare delivery, and law-and-order dynamics.
What are the Key Message to Young Civil Servants in Punjab CM Interactive Session at MGSIPA
In his address, the Chief Minister advised the officers to:
- Maintain integrity and ethical conduct throughout their careers
- Stay connected with citizens, especially the marginalized
- Use innovation and technology to improve service delivery
- Work collaboratively across departments and services
He emphasized that civil servants play a crucial role in translating democratic intent into administrative action and must always remain guided by constitutional values.
Strengthening Centre–State and Institutional Cooperation
The interactive session also highlighted the growing institutional cooperation between state training institutes and national academies. Officials noted that such collaborations help create a more unified administrative outlook among officers serving across different cadres and regions.
By hosting officers from diverse services and backgrounds, MGSIPA is contributing to a shared understanding of governance challenges and best practices, which is essential in an increasingly interconnected administrative framework.
