INDIAN INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (IIPA) REFORMS
Context
At the 71st Annual General Body Meeting of the IIPA, chaired by the Vice President (President of IIPA), Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted IIPA’s transformation aligning with the Modi Government’s shift from “Rule-Bound” to “Role-Based Governance.”
Institutional Overview
Name | Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) |
Established | 1954 |
President (Ex-Officio) | Vice President of India |
Chairman | Minister of State (Independent Charge), DoPT currently Dr. Jitendra Singh |
Objective | Training, research, and capacity building in public administration, governance, and policy studies |
Recent Reforms & Modernisation
Structural & Institutional Transformation
Major structural reforms undertaken over the last 11 years.
Transition from a conventional academic institute to a vibrant knowledge hub for “future-ready governance.”
Now positioned as a key knowledge partner in Mission Karmayogi (National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building).
Governance Philosophy: “Rule-Bound to Role-Based”
Rule-bound governance → focused on rigid procedural compliance.
Role-based governance → emphasizes accountability, flexibility, innovation, and performance outcomes.
Reflects Mission Karmayogi’s competency-based approach to civil service reform.
Key Initiatives
Domain | Reform / Initiative | Objective |
Membership Reform | IIPA membership expanded to include youth, private sector, defence services, and elected representatives (corporators, councillors) | Democratization of governance knowledge |
Capacity Building | Alignment with Mission Karmayogi and iGOT Karmayogi Platform | Online & blended learning for officials |
Digital Infrastructure | Modern boardrooms and professional digital studio | Enable digital training and governance communication |
Knowledge Partnerships | Collaborations with Tata Motors, Maruti, and academic institutions | Integration of public-private best practices |
Publications | People-Centric Governance: Indian Perspective, Artificial Intelligence for Social Justice | Promote innovative and inclusive governance models |
Regulatory Reform | Over 1,700 obsolete rules and procedures scrapped | Move towards trust-based, citizen-centric governance |
Philosophical Shift
Governance now aims at:
Transparency
Efficiency
Trust-based administration
Innovation & inclusion
IIPA acts as a bridge between academia, bureaucracy, and private sector — a “Governance Innovation Lab.”
Alignment with National Missions
Mission / Initiative | IIPA’s Role |
Mission Karmayogi | Training modules for competency-based learning |
iGOT Platform | Online courses for civil servants & stakeholders |
Good Governance Index (GGI) | Support through research and evaluation |
Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) | Knowledge partner for reform recommendations |
Significance
Public Sector 2.0: Encourages synergy with private sector efficiency and innovation.
Youth Inclusion: Expands policy discourse beyond bureaucracy.
Knowledge-Driven Governance: Fosters evidence-based policymaking and future governance capacity.
Reflects New Bureaucratic Ethos: Adaptive, accountable, and citizen-centric.
Prelims Practice MCQ
Q. With reference to recent reforms in the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), consider the following statements:
The IIPA’s membership has been expanded to include elected representatives and professionals from outside the civil services.
It has aligned its training framework with Mission Karmayogi and the iGOT platform.
The institute now functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (a)
Explanation:
(1) ✅ Correct — Membership has been opened to youth, elected representatives, private and defence sector professionals.
(2) ✅ Correct — IIPA’s training aligns with Mission Karmayogi and iGOT digital learning.
(3) ❌ Incorrect — IIPA functions under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, not Home Affairs.