Dr Jitendra delivers lecture on ‘AI for Sushasan’, proposes AI-Driven ‘Smart Governance’

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh proposed positioning the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) as a nodal institution for building artificial intelligence competencies among public sector officials and developing a curriculum for AI-driven “Smart governance,” signalling a significant step towards institutionalising technology-led administrative reforms in India.

Delivering the 5th Dr. Rajendra Prasad Annual Memorial Lecture on “AI for Sushasan (Good Governance)” at the 72nd Founder’s Day of IIPA here today, the Minister said the institute could coordinate with organisations such as the Capacity Building Commission, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), LBSNAA Mussoorie and the Department of Administrative Reforms to design training frameworks for AI-enabled governance. Emphasising IIPA’s legacy and academic credibility, he noted that it is uniquely positioned to prepare a curriculum for AI-driven “Smart governance” and to serve as a national hub for capacity building in the public sector.

The Minister also outlined institutional reforms at IIPA, noting that its membership has been expanded to include younger civil servants such as Assistant Secretaries. This move has significantly broadened its reach, taking total membership to around 11,000. He added that the institute has conducted 129 courses for nearly 6,000 officials this year, reaffirming its role as a premier centre for training, research, and policy discourse in public administration.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also called for deeper collaboration with the private sector, the armed forces, and public representatives in governance training, reflecting an integrated and inclusive approach to administrative modernisation. He noted that specialised courses, including residential programmes for science administrators, have been introduced in collaboration with institutions such as the Capacity Building Commission.

Highlighting decentralised governance innovations, the Minister referred to the introduction of district-level IIPA chapters and district governance indices. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening administrative capacity at the grassroots level and fostering data-driven governance and best practices across regions.

As part of the government’s broader digital governance initiatives, the Minister announced the rollout of a “Saral AI” portal through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The portal aims to translate complex technological advancements into simple, citizen-friendly narratives, enabling the public to better understand and utilise emerging technologies.

Highlighting India’s strategic push in artificial intelligence, Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to the ₹10,370-crore ‘India AI Mission’ as a cornerstone of the country’s digital transformation. He said the mission is designed to strengthen the national AI ecosystem through investments in research, innovation, infrastructure, and skill development, reflecting the government’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for inclusive and efficient governance.

The Minister further noted that the Centre has provisioned 38,000 CPUs and later 22,000 GPUs to scale up AI programmes, a move expected to significantly enhance India’s computational capabilities and accelerate the deployment of AI-driven solutions across sectors.

Dr. Jitendra Singh further highlighted India’s growing global engagement in Artificial Intelligence, noting that international collaborations and AI summits have catalysed significant investments and strengthened the country’s technological ecosystem.

Citing measurable improvements in citizen-centric administration, the Minister said the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) has achieved a disposal rate exceeding 95 per cent. He added that the platform has been converted into a hybrid model, ensuring that a human representative interacts with complainants after grievance resolution, thereby combining technological efficiency with empathy.

Underscoring the scale of civil services reform, the Minister highlighted the progress of Mission Karmayogi, stating that more than 1.45 crore officials have registered on the capacity-building platform. The initiative provides digital learning content in 23 languages, including those listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and aims to create a future-ready, competent, and citizen-oriented bureaucracy.

Dr. Jitendra Singh’s address underscored the Centre’s broader vision of leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centric service delivery. With initiatives ranging from the India AI Mission and Mission Karmayogi to AI-enabled grievance redressal systems and capacity-building frameworks, the government aims to embed technology at the core of next-generation governance.