Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Sunday launched a first-of-its-kind programme on “Administrative Capacity Building for Scientists and Academicians” under Mission Karmayogi.
The initiative aims to equip scientists and academic leaders with governance and decision-making skills, addressing a long-standing gap in structured administrative training for professionals transitioning into leadership roles.
Speaking at a special session of “SADHANA Saptah”, the Minister said that scientists and academicians are often required to take on institutional responsibilities without prior exposure to administrative processes. He noted that the programme is designed to address this challenge in a systematic manner.
Dr. Singh said the initiative has evolved through consultations with scientific leadership and would help reduce reliance on self-learning. He added that the programme will remain dynamic, incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, while maintaining a balance between technology and human judgement.
Highlighting future plans, the Minister said the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) will develop structured modules for specific administrative functions. These include a focused course on handling Parliamentary Questions and short orientation modules for early-career civil servants and Assistant Secretaries.
He emphasised the need to move from a rule-based to a role-based approach in governance, enabling officials to adapt across sectors. He also underlined the importance of integrating private-sector practices with traditional administrative systems.
Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, S. Radha Chauhan, said the next phase of Mission Karmayogi will focus on building adaptive and citizen-centric institutions. She highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in governance and stressed the need for a humane approach to public service delivery.
On the occasion, the Minister launched the revamped UNNATI portal to strengthen capacity-building ecosystems and unveiled a roadmap for the nationwide rollout of the Karmayogi Kartavya Karyakram.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Capacity Building Commission and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) to promote global knowledge partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital governance and public sector innovation.
Dr. Singh said the reforms are part of efforts to build a future-ready civil service based on continuous learning, technology adoption and citizen-centric governance. He added that capacity-building initiatives must lead to measurable improvements in service delivery and institutional performance.
