IIMB welcomes 21st batch of participants to the Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management
Former Finance Secretary, GoI, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia highlights strategic competencies in navigating contemporary governance
27 September, 2024, Bengaluru: IIM Bangalore hosted the inauguration and orientation of the 21st batch of the Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM) on 27 September 2024. The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, IAS (Retd.), Former Finance Secretary, Government of India, who is also a gold medalist from PGPPM Cohort 1.
The PGPPM programme, offered in collaboration with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), equips professionals with contemporary skills and knowledge in public policy and management. This year, the programme welcomed close to 20 candidates posted with the Department of Revenue, Income Tax Department; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Corporate Affairs; Ministry of Railways among others.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Arnab Mukherji, Chairperson, PGPPM, who oriented participants on the unique online and hybrid-learning structure of the programme.
Inaugural speaker Dr. Hasmukh Adhia extended his congratulations to the incoming cohort and commended their decision to pursue a formal training at IIM Bangalore. “An understanding of public policy and an exposure to public systems, specifically in the context of India, is crucial”, he said, sharing his decision to wait for a homegrown public policy program that was just taking shape alongside an evolving policy dynamic in the early 2000s. Reflecting on his own experience, he said, “Joining PGPPM was transformative for my career. It changed the way I perceived public policy. My bureaucratic mindset shifted entirely as I started to approach every decision through the lens of data and evidence”.
In his address, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia laid out six guiding principles for the incoming cohort. He urged the attendees to prioritize purpose to driving meaningful change over vanity as they pursue a career in public service. “Anchor your career decisions to this objective, steering clear of distractions and superficial motives,” he said.
He encouraged the cohort to embrace every opportunity for impact, noting that as public servants, “every decision has a far-reaching effect on people’s lives”. While on the subject of resilience, he advised participants to practice what he termed “dynamic acceptance”—learning to accept outcomes without complacency while adapting and moving forward.
“Cultivating inner discipline and mastering the management of ‘self’ is paramount,” he further stated, while also stressing the need for continuous learning and intellectual growth. Concluding his address, Dr. Adhia underscored the value of reliability in leadership, reminding participants that, “Being reliable is a crucial virtue for leaders”.
IIMB Director Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan spoke on the institute's role in addressing evolving needs in public management, recounting the founding of IIM Bangalore in 1973 and its focus on developing strong public-sector managers. He emphasized that as the nation transitioned towards a model that blends public and private sector dynamics, initiatives like PGPPM, launched in the early 2000s, played a pivotal role in shaping successful and impactful public policy leaders.
“Our alumni have made significant contributions to policy-making across diverse domains and government functions, at the central, state, and sectoral levels. With our strengths in management education and a unique focus on governance, IIM Bangalore is the ideal place to foster the next generation of public policy leaders," said Prof. RT Krishnan.
Archana Srivastava, PGPPM Office, delivered the vote of thanks for the session.