Inside Raisina Hill: Cabinet Rejig On The Anvil, Conservation At The Core, & Training In Full Swing

As one walks down the Hill along the Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path, come other edifices — Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Shashtri Bhavan, and Kartavya Bhavan on one side and Sena Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, and Vanijya Bhavan on the other. The bureaucrats who adorn the offices in these buildings decide on India's economic, social, and industrial policies. There are many tales to be told from the corridors of these grandiose buildings. We let you in on some of them here in this week's edition of "Inside Raisina Hill".

Post Bihar Win, Stage Set For Cabinet Reshuffle At Centre

Many in the corridors of power in New Delhi hint at a possible cabinet reshuffle at the Centre after the formation of the government in Bihar following a resounding victory in the assembly elections.

Sources said that keeping in view of maintaining the caste and regional balance in the Union Cabinet ahead of the Bihar elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi favoured the status quo in his team. But given the fact that a few of the Ministers are overloaded and the assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are due early next year, a new balancing in the representation in the Union Cabinet could be done, they said.

The sources said, those ministers who are holding more than two portfolios may be divested of at least one and likely changes are expected in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as the minister is overburdened with three important ministries.

IAS Officers Honoured For Water Conservation

With water conservation being at the core of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers have been awarded by President Draupadi Murmu for their work in the field.    

The President honoured 2016-batch IAS officer of Tripura cadre Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal with the ‘Best District (North East Zone) award and Tina Dabi, a 2015-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, for her outstanding work in rainwater conservation. Dabi has been recognised several times for her impactful initiatives.

Tina Dabi is at present the Barmer District Collector, and she was honoured by the President for her outstanding performance in rainwater harvesting and public participation under Catch the Rain.

Jaiswal, currently serving as the District Magistrate of Sepahijala, Tripura, was recognised by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for the district’s major strides in water conservation, river rejuvenation, floodplain protection and sustainable natural resource management.

IIPA's Digital Capacity Building 

Closely aligning with the Modi government’s transformative shift from a rule-bound system to a role-based model of governance, the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) recently developed boardrooms of varied capacities, equipped with modern audiovisual and conferencing technologies.

These upgrades support high-quality discussions, training sessions and collaborative activities essential for developing contemporary administrative capabilities. It has also set up a professional-grade digital studio - one of the first of its kind within a government institution - facilitating digital learning, virtual training and wider communication outreach.

The changes at IIPA have enhanced the institution’s administrative responsiveness and are directly contributing to a more efficient and citizen-centric Indian Bureaucracy.

CPSE Leadership, Skilling Exercise

In a significant move to strengthen the capabilities of executives within Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Academy of Public Sector Enterprises (APSE) conducted a week-long Executive Development Programme (EDP) for junior and mid-level managers. The programme was formally inaugurated by Atul Sobti, Director General of SCOPE, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to skill development and effective leadership.

The Executive Development Programme brought together 35 executives from 16 CPSEs across the country. The training, themed “The Career Journey to Personal Effectiveness,” was designed to equip participants with the skills needed to navigate today’s complex and volatile market environment. The programme emphasised leadership, decision-making and personal effectiveness, aiming to prepare executives for higher responsibilities in their organisations.

During the course of the programme, participants engaged in sessions covering a range of topics relevant to modern organisational challenges. It included interactive workshops, case studies, and group discussions, enabling participants to share experiences and learn practical strategies for handling operational, managerial and market-related challenges within their respective enterprises. The SCOPE plays a pivotal role in capacity building, skill enhancement and knowledge sharing among employees of CPSEs.