Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday felicitated top-performing Ministries, Departments and States at the “SADHANA Saptah 2026” ceremony, highlighting a major push towards capacity building and continuous learning within the government.
Addressing the event, Singh said the initiative marked a shift from individual recognition to performance-based evaluation linked to flagship programmes and problem-solving at the district level.
Massive participation signals behavioural shift
The Minister underscored the scale of participation during the week-long programme, which recorded over 3.18 crore course completions. Nearly 47 lakh government employees took part, with more than 33 lakh completing at least four hours of prescribed learning.
He described the numbers as nearly eight times higher than earlier learning initiatives, calling it evidence of a “behavioural shift” towards continuous professional development in governance.
“SADHANA Saptah has become a people-driven movement where officials are engaging in learning out of commitment rather than compulsion,” Singh said.
Inclusive approach to capacity building
Emphasising inclusivity, Singh noted strong participation from Group C and D employees as well as frontline workers, alongside senior officers.
He said this reflects the government’s effort to ensure that capacity building cuts across hierarchies and directly improves service delivery and public trust.
States and Union Territories also played a key role, particularly in driving participation at the grassroots level where improved skills translate into better citizen services, he added.
Expanding training to new sectors
The Minister said the government is now extending capacity-building initiatives to scientists, academicians and other specialised domains. Similar orientation efforts are also being explored for parliamentarians and ministers.
He highlighted the role of the Capacity Building Commission in expanding outreach and fostering collaboration, including partnerships with the private sector.
Technology as a key enabler
Singh described artificial intelligence and digital tools as central to building future-ready governance, noting that officials are increasingly adopting new competencies.
However, he cautioned that technology must complement human judgement, stressing that integrity remains the cornerstone of public service.
Strengthening Mission Karmayogi
Congratulating awardees, Singh said such recognition sets benchmarks under the Mission Karmayogi framework and reinforces the need to institutionalise continuous learning in governance.
The initiative reflects the Centre’s broader push to link skill development with governance outcomes while preparing civil services to meet emerging technological and administrative challenges.
