Did the Maha government and IIT Bombay sign an MoU for a Public Policy Certificate Course?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Maharashtra government partners with IIT Bombay.
- Launch of Public Policy Certificate Course.
- Enhances skills of youth in the Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme.
- 20 days of classroom training included.
- 90 hours of online learning offered annually.
Mumbai, July 21 (NationPress) - On Monday, the government of Maharashtra entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This partnership aims to offer a Public Policy Certificate Course for youth involved in the Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the collaboration with IIT will significantly enhance the skills of the youth participating in the Fellowship Programme, enabling them to operate more efficiently.
During the signing, Rajagopal Devara, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning Department, along with Prof. Shirish Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, formalized the agreement.
CM Fadnavis noted that the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program has been evolving and enriching since its inception in 2015, collaborating with esteemed institutions like IIT. This certificate course is designed to provide valuable knowledge and skills to the youth involved in the fellowship, enhancing their career prospects.
“The primary aim of the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program is to offer academically proficient and socially conscious youth the chance to work alongside the government. When bright young minds from diverse fields engage with the government, they inject fresh ideas and perspectives, ultimately improving administrative effectiveness,” stated the Chief Minister.
He expressed optimism that this initiative will provide the government with new insights, driving systemic changes, while also empowering the youth to effect positive societal transformations.
Rajgopal Devara mentioned that the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program has been active since 2015, originally placing youth at the Mantralaya level. However, starting this year, the program will now extend to the district level, allowing participants to collaborate with the District Collector and CEO of the Zilla Parishad in fieldwork.
This initiative will also allow the government to leverage their insights in policy-making. The certificate course aims to equip participants with the necessary tools and methodologies to address public development challenges.
Prof. Shirish Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, commented on the significance of partnering with the state government for the fellowship program. He revealed that the curriculum will encompass 20 days of in-person training, 90 hours of online instruction annually, and interactions with senior professors, retired civil servants, and specialists from various sectors at IIT Bombay.