IIPA's 72nd AGM: Membership Climbs to 11,611

The Indian Institute of Public Administration held its 72nd Annual General Body Meeting, where the call was for the institute to work well beyond Delhi. Dr Jitendra Singh, Chairman of the IIPA Executive Council, said nationwide outreach is the key to inclusive capacity building in governance.

Who was present

Dr Jitendra Singh is Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space. He spoke in the presence of Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India, who is also the President of IIPA, along with senior officials and members of the institute's governing bodies.

Beyond the national capital

The minister's main point was geographical. Taking the institute's learning resources, academic activities and professional networks to a wider community, he said, means strengthening its Regional and Local Branches and using them as channels for participation and the spread of knowledge. Capacity building in public administration should not stay confined to Delhi but should reach officials and professionals in every region.

Membership and the institute's reach

Membership has grown to 11,611, with more young professionals and recent graduates joining, which gives the institute a mix of experienced administrators, younger entrants and researchers. As on 31 March 2026 it had 26 Regional Branches and 43 Local Branches across the country.

The year's work

• 45 research projects completed during 2025-26, with 13 studies still running
• 130 training programmes and related academic activities conducted
• Of these, 35 programmes were held for State Government officials working at state, district and local levels

Digital learning and the private sector

Dr Jitendra Singh pressed for digital learning and online courses to widen access to training, and for collaboration with the private sector so that learning material reaches a larger audience. Such routes, he said, can complement the institute's physical presence.

The Patel link and the road ahead

Recalling the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the place of the civil services in nation building, the minister traced the institute's journey since it was set up in 1954. He held that learning, research and professional development in public administration remain as relevant as ever as the country moves towards Viksit Bharat. The meeting reviewed the institute's activities and priorities, with the discussion turning on wider participation and a longer reach for its academic and capacity-building work in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.