Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the National Conference on NextGen Administrative and e-Gov Reforms in Shillong on July 13. The two-day event, hosted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances alongside the Meghalaya government, unites policymakers and officials to modernize public administration. Singh signaled a shift toward AI-driven services and cybersecurity. He confirmed the Centre has already cleared nearly 2,000 obsolete rules.
Governance is changing. Singh emphasized that the next phase of reform focuses on integrated digital services, process re-engineering, and evidence-based policymaking. He noted the success of national platforms like UPI, Aadhaar-enabled services, and the CPGRAMS grievance system, which now utilizes AI-powered multilingual chatbots. Regarding the adoption of new tools, Singh stated: "The challenge is not merely adopting AI but using it wisely. Human intervention will continue to remain crucial alongside technological advancement."
The conference at the State Convention Centre follows the 29th National e-Governance Conference held in Jaipur on July 2. During the earlier Jaipur event, officials presented the 2026 National e-Governance Awards to projects selected from 1.65 lakh Gram Panchayats and released the Jaipur Declaration. In Shillong, leadership aims to build on this momentum, potentially resulting in a Shillong Declaration 2.0.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, DARPG Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Meghalaya Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed joined the inauguration. Speakers showcased regional progress, including Meghalaya's New Shillong Administrative City project. The schedule includes reviews of Prime Minister’s Award-winning initiatives, cybersecurity, and State Collaborative Initiatives involving Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The agenda covers rural development, banking, healthcare, and education to ensure digital gains reach every citizen.
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