April 23, 2025 | New Delhi – In a bold and strategic move to reinforce leadership capacity within the government framework, the Rashtriya Administrative Mission (RAM) has announced the launch of an ambitious Executive Leadership Programme (ELP) aimed specifically at empowering Heads of Departments (HoDs) across various ministries and public sector institutions.
The initiative, which is set to commence in the upcoming quarter, seeks to transform traditional bureaucratic practices by cultivating dynamic, innovative, and visionary leadership at the departmental level. The programme is being rolled out in collaboration with leading national and international academic institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Harvard Kennedy School, and the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG).
A Step Towards Modern Governance
The Executive Leadership Programme is a part of RAM’s broader vision to modernize India’s public administration through capacity building, skills enhancement, and digital integration. The programme is tailored for senior government officers currently serving as Heads of Departments in central and state government agencies.
Announcing the initiative, Dr. Neelam Rajan, Chairperson of RAM, stated, “Effective leadership at the top levels of administration is critical for India’s development agenda. Our goal is to equip HoDs not just with administrative skills but with strategic thinking, global perspectives, and people-centric leadership styles that foster innovation and accountability.”
Key Objectives of the Programme
The Executive Leadership Programme has been designed with a comprehensive curriculum that aims to achieve the following objectives:
Strategic Thinking & Policy Innovation: Encourage HoDs to take initiative in policy design, anticipate challenges, and devise long-term strategies that align with national priorities.
Digital and Data-Driven Governance: Equip leaders with knowledge and tools related to AI, data analytics, e-governance, and cyber security.
Ethical and Inclusive Leadership: Promote decision-making rooted in transparency, ethics, and inclusivity to strengthen citizen trust in government systems.
Change Management: Empower leaders to effectively lead change within their departments, adopt new technologies, and embrace modernization.
Collaborative Governance: Foster inter-departmental and inter-governmental collaboration to improve public service delivery.
Structure and Delivery
The ELP will be a hybrid programme, combining in-person residencies, online modules, and practical field immersions. The inaugural batch will include approximately 150 senior officers from various ministries such as Health, Education, Environment, Urban Development, and Finance.
The programme will be divided into three core phases:
Foundation Phase: Online learning modules covering essential leadership theories, public administration principles, and self-assessment tools.
Residency Phase: Intensive in-person workshops at IIM Ahmedabad and NCGG, where participants will engage in case-based discussions, peer learning, and simulations.
Capstone Project Phase: Each participant will work on a live project within their department aimed at solving a real-world governance challenge. These projects will be reviewed by a panel of experts and could be scaled up for national implementation.
Additionally, the programme will include lectures and interactions with eminent policymakers, economists, social entrepreneurs, and international faculty, providing a rich, global perspective on governance challenges.
A Broader Reform Agenda
The launch of the ELP is not an isolated step but part of a larger reform roadmap under the Rashtriya Administrative Mission, which has been pushing for bureaucratic reforms since its inception in 2023. Previous initiatives under RAM have included digital upskilling of mid-level officers, AI-based citizen feedback mechanisms, and revamping training modules for IAS probationers.
With the Executive Leadership Programme, RAM aims to address the often-cited leadership vacuum at the higher levels of government service. According to a report by the Indian Council for Public Administration (ICPA), nearly 60% of departmental heads feel ill-equipped to deal with emerging challenges like climate change, digital transition, and inclusive economic growth.
Dr. Shubha Narayan, Governance Expert and former advisor to the UNDP, commented on the development, saying, “The traditional training system for civil servants is outdated. What India needs is a cohort of visionary leaders who can navigate complexity and inspire teams. RAM’s new programme is a timely and commendable intervention.”
Monitoring and Evaluation
To ensure the effectiveness of the programme, RAM has partnered with the National Institute of Administrative Reforms (NIAR) to develop a robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework. The M&E process will track progress at three levels:
Individual Transformation: Measured through self-assessment tools and 360-degree feedback.
Organizational Impact: Evaluated through improvements in departmental performance metrics.
Policy Outcomes: Analyzed through the success rate and scalability of capstone projects.
Looking Ahead
The first cohort of the Executive Leadership Programme is expected to graduate by March 2026. Based on its success, RAM is considering expanding the programme to cover District Magistrates, Municipal Commissioners, and other grassroots-level administrative leaders.
With India poised to emerge as a global economic powerhouse, strengthening the leadership skills of its bureaucratic machinery is not just a necessity—it is an imperative. The RAM Executive Leadership Programme is a decisive step in that direction, one that promises to foster a culture of excellence, adaptability, and visionary governance in the public sector.
