International Exchange and Cooperation in Public Administration

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DPAPG) works as the nodal point in respect of matters relating to international cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance.

This includes organizing programmes as part of projects/bilateral measures taken up in accordance with the Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs)/ Agreements signed between India and other countries (bilateral or multilateral). 

The purpose of the international cooperation component is to enable the sharing of information, best practices and personnel across national governments. 

This involves exchange of visits and undertaking programmes/projects and activities particularly in the area of public administration and delivery of services, so as to improve upon the current system of governance and instill a gr eater sense of responsiveness, accountability, transparency, and achieving public service excellence in the context of public service delivery, good governance, public service reform, and capacity building and skills upgradation. 

MOU with Government of United Kingdom 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms was signed with Government of UK on November 11, 2015. 

First meeting of the India-UK Joint Working Group was held in London, UK during 28-29 January, 2016. 

Also Programme of Action (POA) has been agreed to by both the sides to take forward the new initiatives under the overall ambit of the MoU. 

India-France Agreement 

An Agreement with Government of France on ‘Cooperation on Public Administration and Administrative Reform’ was signed on January 25, 2016. A three member delegation visited Paris to attend India-France First Joint Working Gr oup meeting. Both sides exchanged/shared views in the area of public administration, governance reforms and online delivery of citizen-centric services and explored the possibilities of adopting suitable best practices in these areas. Also Programme of Action (POA) has been agreed to by both the sides to take forward the new initiatives under the overall ambit of the MoU. 

India-Singapore Cooperation 

Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries on cooperation in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration was signed on November 11, 2011. 

The 2nd India-Singapore Joint Working Group meeting und er the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration was held in Singapore on January 19-20, 2015. 

Government of Singapore organised a 4-day training programme on the theme ‘e-Governance’ for officers of Government of India and States/UTs during 28 June-July 1, 2016. 

India-Malaysia Cooperation 

A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance with Government of Malaysia was signed on November 25, 2013. 

India-Malaysia 3rd Joint Working Group meeting was he ld in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 28-30 September, 2015. 

During the JWG meeting both the sides agreed to the Programme of Action (PoA). Under the PoA agreement, the Malaysian side organised Short-term Training Programme for 15 Middle Management level officers of Government of India (Director and below) at National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during July 18-22, 2016 on the the me ‘Citizen-Centric Online Services through eGovernance’. 

The participants were exposed to Malaysian Government’s experience and good practices in the field of Public Administration and Governance especially in Delivery of Online Public Services which would help participants to replicate the lessons learnt with suitable modifications in India. 

India-China Cooperation 

An MoU on cooperation in the field of Civil Services, Personnel Management and Public Administration between the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China was signed on 27 May, 2010 during the visit of President of India to China. 

The MoU expired on May 26, 2015. 

Cabinet in its meeting held on May 18, 2016, gave approval to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of Civil services, Personnel Management and Public Administration between Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China. 

India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum 

India - Brazil - South Africa (IBSA) - the three countries acknowledged that joint efforts and collaboration will position them as active players in helping to direct the public administration and governance towards democratic values and social inclusion. 

The Prime Minister of India, the President of Brazil and the President of South Africa met in Brasilia (Brazil) on September 13, 2006 for the 1st Summit meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa dialogue forum. 

Pursuant to the IBSA Summit decision as contained in the Joint Declaration issued on the occasion, an IBSA Working Group on Public Administration (WGPA) has been set up by the three countries. 

It has since held seven meetings and adopted the areas of cooperation as 

(i) integrated monitoring and evaluation, 

(ii) e-governance, 

(iii) human resource development, 

(iv) citizen oriented service delivery, 

(v) anti-corruption and ethics, and 

(vi) accountability and transparency. 

Collaboration in these areas represents the essence of the agreed upon MoU which was signed on October 17, 2007 in South Africa, during the 2nd IBSA Summit. 

India taking the lead under IBSA cooperation programme in the field of public administration launched the IBSA webportal on public administration on November 30, 2010 with Brazil and South Africa onboard. 

Cooperation with IIAS 

The DARPS is an institutional member of the InternationalInstitute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) since 1998. 

The IIAS with its headquarters at Brussels, Belgium, was established for the purpose of promoting the development of Administrative Sciences, better organization and operation of public administrative agencies, improvement of administrative matters and techniques and for the progress of international administration. 

Membership enables the Government of India in getting information on the latest development in the field of public administration through participation in international meetings and seminars organized by the IIAS as well as through various journals, documents and study reports prepared/issued by them. 

Cooperation with CAPAM 

The Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM), with its headquarters at Ottawa, Canada, is an organization dedicated to strengthening public management and consolidating democracy and good governance throughout the Commonwealth. 

It was formed in 1994 as a result of decisions taken at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Harare in 1991 and in Cyprus in 1993. 

Since inception, CAPAM has grown to a network of over 1,100 members across the Commonwealth countries. 

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India became an institutional member of CAPAM in 1997. 

Since 1998, CAPAM has been announcing its Biennial International Innovations Awards Programme to promote the spirit of innovation in the public service by recognizing those who have made significant contribution to improve governance and services to the public.

India has been participating in the CAPAM Award Programme since the beginning and has won gold medals in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 2010, 2012, 2014 and in recently concluded 2016 CAPAM Innovation Award Programme, (Cancer Cervix Screening: A Life Saving Initiative, Government of Tamil Nadu) and also silver medals in the year 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2016. 

The Department organized CAPAM International Awards Programme 2012 from 21-22 October 2012 on the theme ‘Innovations in the Public Service’ in conjunction with CAPAM Biennial Conference (October 24-16, 2012).

The ‘Sugarcane Information System’ of India won the overall Gold medal of CAPAM International Innovation Award, 2012.