India assists neighbouring countries in improving governance. Here’s how

India has been actively committed to assisting neighbouring nations in improving their governance systems with capacity-building programs.

The latest example of this is the two-week Capacity Development Programme (CBP) for civil servants of Maldives organised by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) which concluded in New Delhi on August 4, 2023.

NCGG has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maldives to enhance the skills and capabilities of 1,000 civil servants in the field of public administration and governance by 2024. As part of the agreement, NCGG has already imparted training to 818 officers from Maldives which includes 29 officers of ACC, Maldives, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said on Monday (August 7, 2033).

According to the ministry, NCGG's efforts are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance mantra of ‘’minimum government, maximum governance’’ and keeping citizens at the forefront while designing developmental strategies and implementing public policies.

Meanwhile, the NCGG continues to conduct Capacity Building Programmes for Bangladeshi civil servants in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the skills of 1,800 Bangladeshi civil servants by 2025.

So far, 64 batches of Bangladeshi civil servants have completed the programme. The two-week CBP for the 65th and 66th batches from Bangladesh commenced on August 1, 2023.

The CBP encompasses various sessions covering topics such as public policy and implementation, digital governance, revitalizing rivers, centralized grievance redressal systems, innovative education outcomes, rural housing, project planning and monitoring, shifting governance paradigms, fintech and inclusion, eco-friendly smart city development, gender and development, and anti-corruption strategies, among others.

By improving the capacity of civil servants, there will be enhanced delivery in terms of policy reforms, infrastructure development, and service provision. Strengthening the capacity of civil servants will contribute to overall governance and foster sustainable development in the region.

However, the NCGG's efforts in capacity building extend beyond Bangladesh and the Maldives. In collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the NCGG has extended its capacity-building training to civil servants from 15 developing nations.

These nations include Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Seychelles, Gambia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Cambodia. This partnership underscores India's commitment to supporting capacity building on a broader scale and promoting effective governance beyond its borders.

It is also worth pointing out that, earlier this year, Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe had sought India's help in establishing policy reforms, governance, capacity building, digitalization, and public service delivery. The possibility was discussed during a meeting with an Indian delegation led by then NCGG Director General Bharat Lal on April 1, 2023. The Sri Lankan President also urged NCGG to help in establishing a University of Governance and Public Policy in Sri Lanka.