Union Minister Jitendra Singh Opens Governance Reform Conference in Shillong

Shillong: Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh arrived in Shillong to kick off a two-day national conference focused on the future of Indian governance. The event, held at the State Convention Centre, brings together district collectors, policymakers, and senior officials from across the country.

Organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances alongside the Meghalaya government, the conference aims to accelerate digital transformation. Singh declared that the nation is moving into a new phase of reform. Future efforts will center on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and integrated digital services. The government has already ditched nearly 2,000 obsolete rules over the last decade.

Singh pointed to the success of digital pillars like UPI, Aadhaar, and the Jan Dhan scheme. He noted that UPI now processes over 18 billion transactions monthly. These tools, alongside the CPGRAMS grievance platform, have shifted how the state interacts with citizens. “Technology is advancing rapidly, but our thinking must evolve at the same pace,” Singh said.

The minister praised Meghalaya for its community-led development and the New Shillong Administrative City project. He expressed hope that the meeting would produce a second Shillong Declaration to codify these next-generation goals. The event includes key figures such as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, DARPG Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma, Meghalaya Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed, and DARPG Additional Secretary Puneet Yadav. Officials are looking toward the broader goals of Viksit Bharat@2047. Governance must remain agile.