Day 1 Highlights:

The inaugural day of the Understanding Government executive education programme, jointly organised by ISPP and PAFI, laid the foundation for an in-depth exploration of public policy and governance. Featuring an impressive array of distinguished speakers, the sessions delved into the intricacies of policymaking and government engagement.

The day commenced with an inspiring welcome address by Mr Luis Miranda, Chairperson of ISPP, who highlighted the critical role of such programmes in fostering informed dialogue between policy stakeholders.

Mr Rajeev Kapoor Associate Dean at ISPP, introduced the foundational roles of government, describing it as the state’s agent responsible for ensuring order, justice, and governance.

Dr Anup Wadhawan elaborated on the cautious yet impactful role of public servants, shaped by strict accountability mechanisms and a fear of disruption. He underscored the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, coalition-building, and cushioning socio-economic shocks to ensure policy success.

Dr N.C. Saxena highlighted gaps in India’s social sector performance, drawing attention to both policy design and implementation challenges. Using case studies such as NREGA, Forest and Tribe Linkages, he illustrated discrepancies in resource allocation and outcomes.

Mr Sanjay Chadha shared insights on effective government engagement, emphasising the importance of timing, crafting industry-wide narratives, and proactive advocacy. He underscored the need to understand stakeholders and leverage alliances to align corporate objectives with policy priorities.

Day 1 offered participants actionable insights into the multifaceted world of public policy and governance, providing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between policy, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Day 2 Recap

The final day of the Understanding Government Programme under the PAFI-ISPP Executive Programme Series, hosted at Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), culminated with a deep dive into critical aspects of engaging with government processes.

The day began with insightful sessions from experts, including:

Supriya Devasthali, Joint Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India gave insights on transformative reforms like Ease of Doing Business and Reducing Compliance Burden, highlighting India’s journey towards streamlined processes and a digital-first governance model.

Luis Miranda, Chairperson of ISPP and Former Chairperson of IDFC Private Equity shared invaluable lessons from his journey of establishing IDFC Private Equity. Cultivating strong relationships, building stakeholder trust to champion your cause, and demonstrating the long-term benefits of an initiative were among the key takeaways from his insights.

T.S. Vishwanath, Founding Member, Past President and Director General, of PAFI, shared his experiences and strategies for meaningful and impactful engagement with state governments, including aligning goals, building trust, consulting all stakeholders, building networks and creating a win-win narrative for stakeholders.

Rajiv Datt, Senior Fellow, ISPP and Former MD, Indian Railway Finance Corporation, explained how governments make investment decisions, discussing the government’s investment processes, their challenges and considerations and how to best engage with the government for positive outcomes.

The day concluded with a Convocation Ceremony, featuring an inspiring lecture by Mr Tarun Bajaj, former Revenue Secretary, Government of India focussing on the complexity of government decision-making and the importance of engagement with multiple stakeholders in the growth story of India. This was followed by the distribution of certificates, celebrating the participants, and marking the successful completion of this enriching programme.

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