IIM Jammu hosts Entry-Level Civil Servants from North-Eastern and Himalayan States/UTs under LBSNAA study tour

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu had the privilege of hosting a delegation of Entry-Level Civil Servants from the North-Eastern and Himalayan States/Union Territories as part of the Study Tour Programme organized by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. The visit was aimed at providing young civil servants with exposure to best institutional practices in management education, public policy, governance, innovation, and regional development.

The programme commenced with a warm welcome which provided an insightful overview of the remarkable journey of IIM Jammu since its establishment in 2016. The participants, representing diverse North-Eastern and Himalayan States and union territories, introduced themselves and shared their professional backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations, paving the way for a meaningful and engaging interaction with the leadership and faculty of the Institute.

Prior to the technical sessions, the visiting delegation was taken on a comprehensive tour of the IIM Jammu campus, where they were acquainted with the Institute's world-class infrastructure and academic ecosystem. The tour included visits to the Reception Area, Academic Office, Placement Office, Mandapam Auditorium, Smart Classrooms, the Nalanda Library, Vishrantika Faculty Lounge, Manthan Senate Hall, and the Centre for Innovation, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (CISDE), providing participants with a first-hand understanding of the Institute's state-of-the-art facilities and learner-centric environment.

The visit continued with an interactive session presided over by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. The interactive session was graced by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty & Research; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics; Brigadier (Retd.) Bhupinder Singh Kang, Chief Administrative Officer; Dr. Sandeep Ananthnarayan, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG), with other officials of the Institute.

Addressing the participants, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, welcomed the young civil servant officer trainees to the City of Temples and described the interaction as a valuable learning opportunity for both the Institute and the future administrators of the country. Referring to the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, he emphasized that anyone in public service must be guided by the spirit of 'Seva Bhav' (selfless service), stating that without this commitment, public administration cannot truly fulfil its purpose. He urged the officers to remain closely connected with the people they serve, uphold empathy, integrity and accountability, and become catalysts of inclusive and sustainable development.

Reflecting on India's remarkable progress in infrastructure, digital transformation and governance, he encouraged the participants to contribute meaningfully to the nation's development. Highlighting IIM Jammu's commitment to entrepreneurship-led growth, he elaborated on the Institute's flagship Mission YUVA, an initiative of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir implemented in collaboration with IIM Jammu to foster entrepreneurship and livelihood generation. He noted that the Mission aims to facilitate the establishment of more than 1.37 lakh enterprises and generate over 4.25 lakh employment opportunities, thereby strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and promoting sustainable socio-economic development across the Union Territory.

Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty & Research, IIM Jammu, presented an overview of the remarkable journey of IIM Jammu since its establishment in 2016. He highlighted the Institute's rapid emergence as one of India's youngest IIMs, emphasizing that quality remains the cornerstone of its academic philosophy. He underlined that sustainable transformation is achieved through meaningful collaboration among academia, government, industry, and society. He further elaborated on IIM Jammu's initiatives in public policy and governance, particularly the pioneering work of the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) which has emerged as a unique collaborative model for working closely with governments to design evidence-based policies and implement transformative developmental initiatives. He also spoke about the Institute's Centres of Excellence and its growing contributions to public policy, governance, research, innovation, and capacity building.He also highlighted the J&K MSME Health Clinic as a successful example of institutional collaboration supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, in his address, highlighted the Institute's remarkable academic growth and achievements under the visionary leadership of Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. He emphasized IIM Jammu's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and creating a vibrant learning ecosystem that nurtures future leaders. He provided an overview of the Institute's diverse academic programmes and underscored its mission of enabling every stakeholder associated with the Institute to lead a purposeful and meaningful life. He further noted that IIM Jammu has established global benchmarks in management education through the achievement of two prestigious international accreditations, reflecting the Institute's pursuit of excellence and continuous transformation. He encouraged the officer trainees to embrace lifelong learning, ethical leadership, and a spirit of service to bring about meaningful change in society and public administration.

Delivering a compelling presentation, Dr. Sandeep Ananthanarayanan, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG), IIM Jammu, highlighted the Centre's remarkable contributions to evidence-based policymaking and governance over the past two years. He shared that CITaG has successfully executed 82 public policy and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, producing more than 80 knowledge outputs across diverse sectors. Showcasing flagship initiatives such as the Electric Vehicle Policy, Integrated Energy Policy, Agri Startup Policy, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy, developed in close collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, he demonstrated how academic expertise can translate into transformative public policy. Urging the officer trainees to become catalysts for change, he encouraged them to embrace data-driven decision-making, innovation, and collaborative governance to address complex developmental challenges and drive inclusive, sustainable growth across the North-Eastern and Himalayan States and Union Territories.

The session concluded with an engaging interaction during which the officer trainees actively participated in discussions on governance, entrepreneurship, innovation, public policy, and institutional leadership. Faculty members addressed their queries and shared valuable insights on the evolving role of management institutions in strengthening public administration, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development. The visit was jointly coordinated by IIM Jammu Executive Education and Consultancy in collaboration with Media and Publication Advisory Committee.

The visit concluded on an inspiring note, reinforcing the importance of continuous engagement between academia and the civil services. The interaction underscored the significance of collaborative leadership, evidence-based policymaking, and innovative governance in addressing contemporary developmental challenges. The programme also reaffirmed IIM Jammu's commitment to supporting capacity building, public policy, and governance initiatives that contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat through meaningful partnerships with government institutions and future civil service leaders.