Gandhinagar, April 23: Gujarat Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das on Thursday delivered a strong message to senior bureaucrats — decisions made at the State Secretariat level carry consequences that outlast administrations and continue shaping citizens' lives for generations. He made these remarks while inaugurating a three-day training programme for Deputy Secretaries of the Gujarat State Secretariat, organised by the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) in Gandhinagar from April 23 to 25, 2025.

Training Focused on Administrative Capacity and Leadership

The programme, themed Enhancing Administrative Capacities and Leadership, was specifically designed to equip officers with skills needed to navigate emerging governance challenges and accelerating technological transformation. SPIPA structured the curriculum to bridge the gap between traditional administrative practices and modern governance demands.

Das emphasized that the role of Secretariat officers is extremely important because policy decisions taken at this level carry enduring consequences. He said earlier resolutions of the Secretariat are still impacting the lives of lakhs of citizens and therefore decisions must always be correct, good and accurate, underlining the weight of administrative responsibility.

AI, Digital Governance, and the Need to Stay Updated

Highlighting the rapid pace of technological disruption, Das noted that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital systems are fundamentally transforming how governance is delivered. He stressed that officers can no longer afford to remain static in their knowledge base.

He said that in today's era, where AI and new technologies are advancing rapidly, it is necessary for officers to keep learning and stay updated. He also called for simplifying administrative procedures to reduce unnecessary documentation burdens on citizens accessing government services.

He further stressed that stronger coordination between field-level officers and Secretariat officials is essential to keep administrative decisions citizen-centric and grounded in on-the-ground realities — a critical gap that often weakens policy implementation across Indian states.

Viksit Bharat 2047 and Gujarat's Development Ambitions

Das also aligned Gujarat's administrative mission with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, urging the state to achieve global standards in sectors where it already leads and secure top national rankings in others. He said every officer and employee plays an important role in this journey of development.

He urged officers to stop viewing files as mere paperwork and instead treat them as instruments of public welfare. He observed that disciplined, committed daily functioning of the administrative machinery directly contributes to both state and national development — a philosophy that underpins Gujarat's long-standing reputation as one of India's better-governed states.

Senior Officials Stress Evidence-Based Decision Making

Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department, Dr Anju Sharma, who also addressed the programme, said continuous learning is non-negotiable in modern public administration. She noted that governance systems must evolve by adopting new knowledge, modern technology, and data-driven methods.

The training curriculum includes technical sessions on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the PM Gati Shakti portal — tools expected to strengthen project planning and execution across departments. Dr Sharma stressed that decision-making must be grounded in evidence and data rather than traditional assumptions.

She said officers should adopt evidence-based decision-making for greater transparency and accuracy in governance. Discussions during the programme are also set to cover the SWAGAT grievance redressal system, the Good Governance Index, time-bound disposal of departmental matters, and strategies linked to Viksit Gujarat 2047.

Sessions on leadership development and emotional agility have been incorporated to prepare officers for high-pressure administrative scenarios — recognising that bureaucratic burnout and poor decision-making under stress remain underreported governance challenges across India.

SPIPA Director Outlines Broader Training Objectives

SPIPA Director General Hareet Shukla said the programme is designed to prepare officers for both present responsibilities and future challenges. He noted that promotion in government service brings enhanced responsibility rather than merely a change in designation.

He added that the programme will provide guidance on administrative rules, digital governance systems, financial management through IFMS, and efficient file disposal. Officers will be trained to view administrative procedures as tools of public welfare rather than bureaucratic formalities.

This initiative reflects a broader national push to modernise India's civil services as the country accelerates toward its 2047 centenary goals. With Gujarat consistently ranking among India's top-performing states on governance indices, the outcomes of this training could serve as a model for similar capacity-building programmes in other states. The three-day programme concludes on April 25, 2025.