Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and MoS PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, called for deeper integration of technology in governance training while chairing the 327th Executive Council meeting of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in the capital on Monday.
As Chairman of the Council, Singh emphasised the need to align capacity-building programmes with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and data analytics. He highlighted the importance of equipping scientists and academicians, who often transition into senior administrative roles, with institutional management and communication skills.
Singh also underscored the role of social media in governance, calling for dedicated sensitisation workshops to guide officers on responsible usage and countering misinformation.
The Council approved key agenda items, including the adoption of the Annual Report and audited accounts for 2024–25, confirmation of the previous meeting’s minutes, and the establishment of a new IIPA branch in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Annual awards were announced at the meeting: the Paul H. Appleby Award 2025 was conferred on retired IAS officer Meenakshi Hooja, while the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Award for Academic Excellence 2025 went to Prof. Prakash C. Sarangi, former Vice-Chancellor of Ravenshaw University. The Best Performing Branch Awards were presented to Karnataka (first), Uttar Pradesh (second), and Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram (joint third).
Nearly 200 entries were received for IIPA’s Annual Essay Competition on themes such as Artificial Intelligence and social media challenges, with four winners from Jharkhand, Telangana, Punjab, and Haryana. The Annual Case Study Competition first prize was awarded to Dr. Vivek Dixit of AIIMS, New Delhi, for his work on third gender concerns. The T.N. Chaturvedi Award for best article was given for studies published in IIPA’s journals Indian Journal of Public Administration and Lok Prashashan.
Highlighting IIPA’s collaborations, the Council noted partnerships with NDMA, CDRI, Amazon Web Services, and HCL Technologies, along with training engagements for Tata Group, Maruti Udyog, and several leading banks. Between April and September 2025, IIPA conducted 49 training programmes, benefiting 2,809 officials, and completed six research projects, with 21 more in progress.
Welcoming the members earlier, IIPA Director General Surendra Nath Tripathi stressed the institute’s focus on strengthening regional branches, expanding outreach through smart classrooms, and live-streaming academic activities.
Singh concluded by urging IIPA to expand collaborations nationally and internationally and align its initiatives with Viksit Bharat @ 2047, ensuring a future-ready governance ecosystem that engages districts, local governments, and private stakeholders.