IIT Bhubaneswar Hosts Lecture on Future of Governance in Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision

Bhubaneswar, 17th July 2025: In a thought-provoking lecture on “Viksit Bharat – Transforming Governance” held yesterday at IIT Bhubaneswar, Shri V. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, laid out the roadmap for a citizen-first, technology-led governance model as part of India’s march toward Viksit Bharat@2047. Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of the Institute also graced the occasion.

Addressing faculty, students, and officials, Shri Srinivas emphasized that India’s governance model is undergoing a paradigm shift in the Amrit Kaal, focused on empowering citizens, promoting institutional efficiency, and preparing for Viksit Bharat@2047 — a developed India by the 100th year of independence. “The future of governance lies in systems that are responsive, transparent, and empathetic. Technology is the forced equalizer that brings the Government to the doorstep of every citizen,” he said.

Key Highlights of the Talk:

1. India’s Digital Grievance Redressal Revolution:

Highlighting the scale and impact of reforms, Mr. Srinivas said, “Our grievance redressal platform is now the largest in the world, handling over 30 lakh complaints every year with a resolution time reduced from 28 to just 15 days.” He underscored the use of AI-based dashboards, multilingual interfaces, and mobile apps in enabling faster and more inclusive service delivery.

2. Mission Karmayogi – Creating Future-Ready Civil Servants:
Speaking about capacity building, Mr. Srinivas noted, “Mission Karmayogi is not just a training programme; it is a values-driven transformation of India’s civil services. It prepares officers to lead with integrity, empathy, and accountability.” The competency-based framework focuses on continuous learning via iGOT portal and embodies values like Vikasa, Kartavya, and Ekata.

3. Making Governance Measurable and Competitive:
Mr. Srinivas stressed the importance of data in governance reform: “The Good Governance Index and District Governance Index create a healthy competition among States and Districts to serve citizens better. Governance should not only be efficient but also felt at the grassroots.” He also mentioned, “in today’s era, governance should be transformed from ‘Rule-based’ to ‘Role-based’ competency.”

4. Expansion of E-Governance:
India now offers more than 20,000 e-services, covering everything from certificates to payments. “We are moving from entitlement-based to on-demand services. The government is in your palm, not just on paper,” he remarked. He also stressed on the growing importance of data in governance. “Modern day decision-making is based on hardcore data,” he said and highlighted on the significance of proper documentation and digitization in government institutions.

5. Last-Mile Inclusion and Administrative Efficiency:
Discussing initiatives like Swachhata campaigns and pension reforms, he added, “From cleaning up 676 lakh sq. ft. of office space to resolving pensioners’ grievances through digital means, we are committed to making every layer of governance efficient and people centric.”

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where the participants discussed Mr. Srinivas on the role of youth, academic institutions and innovation in shaping public policy. Shri Srinivas praised IIT Bhubaneswar for fostering innovation and interdisciplinary learning, aligning with the national mission of preparing youth to lead India’s transformation. He called upon faculty members, staff and students to contribute to India’s transformation journey, which calls for ‘Imagining India through innovation’.