Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister, stresses the need for continuous learning among civil servants as AI, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and digital tools transform governance.
On August 18, 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, delivered a speech at the 15-Day Refresher Course for Lateral Entry Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries. The minister emphasized the need for officers to remain curious learners given the rapidly changing administrative environment. He encouraged active engagement during the course, viewing it as an opportunity for dialogue and feedback exchange.
Dr. Singh highlighted the rapid pace of technological change and its impact on governance, particularly in areas like Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and digital tools. The minister stressed the importance of continuous learning to effectively understand and respond to these emerging technologies.
He also emphasized the additional responsibility for civil servants to use technology for delivering flagship government programs while maintaining their constitutional responsibilities and institutional sanctity. Dr. Singh mentioned that the Government has focused on improving ease of implementation and monitoring of programs.
The minister touched upon various areas in the refresher course curriculum, including policy analysis, digital transformation, municipal finance, public health, cybersecurity, education, and government communication. He suggested extending government communication to include public communication due to the expanding responsibilities of government officers.
Effective communication was identified as an essential requirement for responsible governance by Dr. Singh, who identified four key levels of communication – with government functionaries and colleagues, political functionaries, the media, and common people. The changing communication environment, including the growing role of social media, makes it crucial for officers to develop effective communication skills.
Dr. Singh also emphasized institutionalizing processes for bringing in fresh talent, ideas, and work culture from different sectors, as well as expanding the outreach of institutions like the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) to integrate with other similar institutions and agencies.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
