Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday said that artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and digital tools are rapidly transforming governance, making continuous learning and adaptation essential for civil servants.
Addressing participants of a 15-day refresher course for lateral-entry Joint Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Secretaries, Singh said the rapidly changing administrative environment requires government officers to remain curious learners and constantly update their knowledge and skills.
He said the refresher course should serve as a platform for two-way communication, dialogue and continuous learning rather than merely being a series of lectures. Given the professional experience of the participants, he encouraged them to actively engage in discussions and provide feedback on their learning requirements.
Singh highlighted the growing influence of emerging technologies on administrative processes, particularly artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cybersecurity and digital tools. He stressed that officers must develop a deeper understanding of these technologies to effectively respond to the changing demands of governance.
The Minister also emphasised that civil servants have an added responsibility to use emerging technologies and digital tools for effective delivery of flagship government programmes while maintaining their constitutional responsibilities and the institutional sanctity of government.
He said the government has also been working towards improving the ease of implementation and monitoring of various programmes.
Referring to the curriculum of the refresher course, Singh said it covers areas such as policy analysis, digital transformation, municipal finance, public health, cybersecurity, education and government communication. He suggested that the concept of government communication should increasingly include public communication as officers are taking on wider communication responsibilities.
Communication skills crucial for officers
Singh underlined the growing importance of communication skills in responsible governance and identified four key areas in which government officers need to communicate effectively — with government functionaries and colleagues, political functionaries, the media and citizens.
He said the rapidly changing communication environment, particularly the growing influence of social media, makes it necessary for officers to understand how to communicate effectively with different stakeholders.
The Minister also stressed the importance of institutionalising mechanisms to bring fresh talent, ideas and work culture from different sectors into government. He said around 63 officers have so far entered government through the lateral-entry mechanism.
He described the 15-day refresher programme as a mid-career course designed to support officers during their professional journey and help them adapt to the evolving requirements of public administration.
Focus on feedback and continuous improvement
Singh also called for greater outreach by institutions such as the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and closer integration with other institutions and agencies working in similar areas.
He said such outreach should cover Central and State Governments, public institutions and elected bodies, while courses could also be developed for participants from the corporate and private sectors.
Emphasising the importance of feedback, the Minister urged participants to communicate their requirements and suggest changes that could improve the course curriculum. He also suggested introducing mechanisms for candid and anonymous feedback on faculty and course content to ensure continuous improvement in training programmes.
Singh told the officers that they have an important role to play as the “architects of India ’47” envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged them to approach the programme with an open and learning-oriented mindset.
The Minister said the rapidly changing nature of governance makes continuous professional development, dialogue and adaptation indispensable for an effective and responsive public administration.
