India’s evolving governance architecture and its ambitious vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 took center stage at the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai’s convocation ceremony, where Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra addressed graduating students with a sweeping overview of reforms, innovation, and capacity building.
Congratulating MBA, Executive MBA, and PhD graduates, Mishra praised the institution’s rise to sixth place among India’s leading IIMs and acknowledged the collective effort behind each student’s success. He emphasized that every degree reflects not only individual achievement but also the support of families, teachers, and peers.
Mishra framed India’s current trajectory as one of courage and confidence, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and the mantra of “Reform, Perform and Transform.” He cited global challenges including the pandemic, trade wars, climate change, and technological disruptions, asserting that India is navigating these with resilience and purpose.
India’s emergence as a global innovation hub was underscored with statistics: over 100 unicorns and 1.9 lakh startups now form the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Mishra highlighted government initiatives such as the Rs. 1 lakh crore Anusandhan National Research Fund, the IndiaAI Mission, and the Deep Tech Fund of Funds as key enablers of this growth.
Turning to human resource development, Mishra stressed that technical skills alone are insufficient. He called for ethical leadership rooted in humility, transparency, and teamwork, noting that “team work is probably much more important than individual brilliance.” He urged graduates to embrace continuous learning, warning that knowledge quickly becomes obsolete in a fast-changing world.
Mishra detailed a strategic shift in civil service personnel management since 2014, aimed at building a 21st-century bureaucracy. A major reform has been the overhaul of the empanelment process for senior positions, replacing traditional annual assessments with a Multi-Source Feedback system introduced in 2016. This system evaluates officials based on input from seniors, juniors, peers, and external stakeholders, focusing on decision-making, delivery, integrity, and reputation.
He noted that the reform has expanded the talent pool and enhanced credibility in appointments across the Central Government and PSUs. Domain expertise and aptitude now guide selections, reshaping governance over the past decade. Mishra also referenced the discontinuation of personal interviews for Group B and C posts in 2016, a move aimed at reducing bias and subjectivity.
Mission Karmayogi featured prominently in Mishra’s address as a transformative force in public sector capacity building. The iGOT Karmayogi platform now hosts over 3,300 courses and serves more than 1.3 crore users. With 79% of onboarded employees at the junior level, over 50 lakh have completed role-specific courses. Course completion is now integrated into annual performance appraisals, supported by the Karmayogi Competency Model.
The Capacity Building Commission has assisted 107 ministries and departments, setting national standards for training institutions. A Digital Asset Registry mapped to the Gatishakti platform has been launched to optimize resource utilization. Mishra also highlighted the e-HRMS system for lifecycle-based employee services and the integration of personalized AI-powered learning plans.
He noted that iGOT has gained global recognition as part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, with plans to extend the platform to Caribbean and African nations. Over 30 lakh central civil servants and more than 1 crore officials across states, urban local bodies, and Panchayati Raj institutions have been reached. The platform has enabled over 5 crore course completions, with 2 lakh courses taken daily. More than 10 lakh officials have received Seva Bhav training in citizen-centricity, and 190+ training institutes have been accredited.
Over 100 ministries and departments now operate dedicated capacity-building units, supported by AI-powered learning plans tailored to individual roles and career stages. With 22 states onboarded, the platform also hosts 60+ Indian case studies and the Gyan Kosh portal, now referenced by ADB and other global institutions. An Indian Knowledge Systems unit has been launched to integrate civilizational wisdom into modern governance.
Mishra concluded by affirming that India is not merely discussing change but demonstrating it through speed, scale, and purpose. He urged graduates to carry forward the spirit of Karmayogi in their leadership journeys, reinforcing the message that even the largest institutions can be transformed.
