NextGen Governance Conference: Centre, Meghalaya to meet in Shillong on July 13-14
Synopsis
The Centre and Meghalaya are co-hosting a two-day national governance conference in Shillong on July 13-14, bringing together 300+ delegates to deliberate on digital administration, e-governance awards, and scalable reform models — with the North East positioned as a live laboratory for India's next generation of public administration.
Key Takeaways
DARPG and the Government of Meghalaya will co-host the National Conference on NextGen Administrative & e-Gov Reforms in Shillong on 13–14 July .
Jitendra Singh and Meghalaya CM Conrad K.
Sangma will address the inaugural session.
Over 300 delegates — including District Collectors, senior Central and state officials, and academic representatives — are expected to attend.
Sessions will feature Prime Minister's Award-winning initiatives for 2023 and 2024 , and National Awards for e-Governance 2026 projects.
Themes span digital governance, cybersecurity, healthcare, rural development, and the Aspirational District Programme .
Award-winning projects will be presented as scalable governance models for adoption across states and Union Territories.
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in partnership with the Government of Meghalaya, will host a two-day National Conference on 'NextGen Administrative & e-Gov Reforms' in Shillong on 13 and 14 July, drawing over 300 delegates from Central and state governments, academic institutions, and public administration bodies across India.
Who Will Address the Conference
The inaugural session will be addressed by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, who holds charge of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and the Prime Minister's Office portfolios including Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will also speak at the opening.
Also addressing the inaugural session are Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary of DARPG, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW), and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), alongside Meghalaya Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed.
Key Themes and Sessions
Delegates will be presented with award-winning governance initiatives, including projects that won the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration for 2023 and 2024, as well as the National Awards for e-Governance 2026-winning projects. The conference will also spotlight DARPG-assisted State Collaborative Initiatives (SCI) from the North Eastern region.
Thematic sessions will span holistic district development, digital governance, cybersecurity, public service delivery, healthcare, education, banking, consumer protection, urban governance, rural development, and technology-enabled administration — a broad sweep that reflects the Centre's intent to use the North East as a governance innovation showcase.
Meghalaya's Governance Innovations in Focus
A dedicated opening session will highlight Meghalaya's own citizen-centric reforms and administrative efficiency drives. The state's initiatives in service delivery will be presented as replicable models for other states and Union Territories.
Another session will feature district-level governance successes under the Aspirational District Programme, covering rural livelihoods, education, and holistic development — areas where ground-level outcomes have been measurable.
e-Governance Awards and Scalable Models
The National Awards for e-Governance 2026 segment will showcase emerging-technology applications in urban governance, digital banking, pilgrimage management, Panchayati Raj, consumer protection, and cybersecurity. These projects are being positioned as scalable templates that other administrations can adopt, signalling a shift from one-off pilots to replicable national frameworks.
The conference is expected to produce a set of actionable recommendations on the future of public administration and digital governance in India, with the North Eastern region at the centre of that conversation.
Point of View
Scaled delivery across diverse state capacities. India's e-governance landscape is littered with celebrated pilots that never crossed district borders. The inclusion of DARPG-assisted State Collaborative Initiatives from the North East is promising, but without a binding follow-up mechanism, the risk is that this becomes another well-attended showcase rather than a reform inflection point.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NextGen Administrative & e-Gov Reforms conference?
It is a two-day national conference jointly organised by DARPG and the Government of Meghalaya in Shillong on 13 and 14 July. The event brings together over 300 delegates to deliberate on digital governance, e-governance innovations, and best administrative practices from across India.
Who are the key speakers at the Shillong governance conference?
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will address the inaugural session. DARPG Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma and Meghalaya Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed will also speak at the opening.
What will be showcased at the conference?
Delegates will see presentations on Prime Minister's Award-winning initiatives for 2023 and 2024, National Awards for e-Governance 2026 projects, Meghalaya's citizen-centric reforms, and DARPG-assisted State Collaborative Initiatives from the North Eastern region. Themes include cybersecurity, digital banking, healthcare, and rural development.
Why is the conference being held in Shillong?
Shillong was chosen as the venue in collaboration with the Meghalaya government, which will showcase its own governance innovations at the event. The North Eastern region is being highlighted as a source of replicable governance models for other states and Union Territories.
Who can attend and how many delegates are expected?
The conference is open to senior Central and state government officials, District Collectors, policymakers, domain experts, academic representatives, and public administration practitioners. More than 300 delegates are expected to participate across the two days.
