S. Radha Chauhan Takes Over as New Chairperson of Capacity Building Commission

In a significant development for India’s public administration reform agenda, Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1988 Uttar Pradesh cadre, officially assumed charge as the Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) in New Delhi today. She succeeds Shri Adil Zainulbhai, who had been at the helm since the Commission's inception in April 2021 and played a pivotal role in shaping the early phases of Mission Karmayogi, the Government of India’s flagship civil services reform program.

The transition in leadership comes at a time when capacity building, digital skilling, and governance transformation are central themes in India’s evolving administrative landscape. Mrs. Chauhan brings with her a rich legacy of leadership, having served in key roles at both the state and central levels, most recently as the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the nodal ministry responsible for personnel management in the Government of India.

A Career Dedicated to Public Sector Innovation and Reform

Mrs. Chauhan is widely respected within bureaucratic and policy circles for her focus on systemic reform, technology integration, and capacity enhancement of government institutions. As Secretary of DoPT, she led several pathbreaking initiatives, including digital transformation of training ecosystems, policy development for public service delivery, and improvements in the e-governance framework.

She has also held crucial positions such as:

• Chairperson of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

• Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and IT

• Secretary, Administrative Reforms and Training, Government of Uttar Pradesh

Her diverse portfolio reflects a deep understanding of both grassroots administrative challenges and macro-level institutional reforms, making her ideally positioned to lead the next chapter of the Capacity Building Commission’s journey.

The Commission’s Mandate and Vision Under Mission Karmayogi

Established on 1st April 2021, the Capacity Building Commission is a key institutional pillar of Mission Karmayogi—India’s most ambitious civil service capacity building reform. The Commission is tasked with the standardisation, harmonisation, and institutionalisation of training across over 93 lakh government employees, from central ministries to district administrations.

Under the leadership of Shri Adil Zainulbhai, the Commission laid the groundwork for:

• Competency-based training frameworks

• Annual capacity building plans (CBPs) for ministries and departments

• Integration of digital learning via the iGOT Karmayogi platform

• Creation of the National Architecture for Civil Services Capacity Building (NCAP)

The Commission also collaborates closely with training institutions, government agencies, and think tanks to create adaptive and need-driven learning pathways for public officials.

Priorities for the New Chairperson

With Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan taking charge, the CBC is expected to focus on several key strategic areas in the months ahead:

1. Scaling Mission Karmayogi across States and UTs – Ensuring that the Mission is adopted beyond central services and embraced at the grassroots of state bureaucracies, including municipal and panchayat levels.

2. Blended Learning Models and Customised CBPs – Designing training that blends online learning (via iGOT) with experiential field exposure, contextualised to local governance needs.

3. Deepening the Integration of CBC with Human Resource Management – Aligning capacity building initiatives with HR policies, promotions, and performance metrics to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes.

4. Empanelment of Sector-Specific Knowledge Partners – Onboarding institutions of excellence to design modules for specialized domains such as climate governance, AI in public service, digital health, etc.

5. Data-Driven Feedback and Impact Assessment – Using real-time data dashboards, feedback mechanisms, and AI-powered analytics to evaluate training outcomes and policy impact.

Acknowledging the Founding Chairman’s Contributions

As the founding Chairperson of the CBC, Shri Adil Zainulbhai leaves behind a strong institutional legacy, having led the Commission through its formative years. A respected former McKinsey India Chairman and NITI Aayog member, his tenure was marked by innovative frameworks, collaborative networks, and the operationalisation of Mission Karmayogi’s core philosophies.

His tenure witnessed:

• The development of minimum common standards for capacity building

• Strategic convergence with DoPT, LBSNAA, and state ATIs

• Launch of large-scale orientation programs for bureaucrats

• Driving performance-linked training mandates in central ministries

His contributions have laid a robust foundation for future leadership to build upon.

National Implications for Governance Reforms

The CBC’s work under Mrs. Chauhan will be closely watched, as it plays a critical role in transforming India’s bureaucracy into a future-ready, performance-oriented, and citizen-centric service. With administrative expectations evolving in the era of Digital India, climate adaptation, and global competitiveness, the need for agile and trained civil servants has never been greater.

Driving a New Chapter in Bureaucratic Excellence

Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan’s appointment as Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission marks the beginning of a new chapter in India’s administrative reform movement. Backed by decades of governance experience, a track record of innovation, and a vision for inclusive capacity building, her leadership promises to further the national goal of a smart, ethical, and continuously learning civil service.

The Commission’s renewed energy under her stewardship is set to deepen the Mission Karmayogi impact, enabling civil servants at every level to serve citizens better, faster, and smarter.