"National Conference on Good Governance" begins in Gujarat

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], January 30 : The two-day "National Conference on Good Governance," commenced in Gandhinagar on Thursday, with Union Minister of State for the Department of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh and Finance Minister of Gujarat Kanubhai Desai inaugurating the event. During the inaugural ceremony, the dignitaries launched the 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance e-Journal' and the 'State Collaborative Initiative Portal,' as announced by the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office.
During the event, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his gratitude to the Government of Gujarat for successfully organising the conference. He referred to Gujarat as a reliable model state for good governance and emphasised that there is no better option in the country for hosting seminars or conferences focused on governance and administrative excellence. He noted that in the 1990s, the only venue for national conferences in Gujarat was IIM Ahmedabad. However, today, under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Gujarat has become a hub for hosting numerous international-level conferences. He noted that, after taking office as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspired the idea of organizing the National Conference on Good Governance in various states, said the release.
As a result, this conference has been successfully held across the country. However, Gujarat stands out as the only state that consistently hosts multiple international and national-level conferences. The state is not only a leader in infrastructure development but also a benchmark in e-governance. Gujarat has been at the forefront of developing various digital services, including online platforms, portals, and dashboards, setting an example for others nationwide. To realize the Prime Minister's core principle of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,' the Government of India is working with complete transparency, placing citizens at the centre and leveraging technology to its fullest potential, added the release.
Additionally, through its zero-tolerance policy against corruption and timely execution of initiatives, the government is ensuring that citizens experience the essence of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,' the Union Minister stated. In this context, he also presented several examples to illustrate the impact of these efforts. Also, he provided a detailed overview of key initiatives undertaken by the Government of India, including CPGRAMS, the Online RTI Portal, Employment Fairs, Facial Recognition Technology, Mission Karmayogi, and Chintan Shibir. He also urged delegates from various states to engage in thoughtful discussions and deliberations to further promote good governance in the interest of citizens, the release mentioned.
Gujarat's Finance Minister, Kanubhai Desai, emphasized the importance of good governance as the foundation of a developed society. He highlighted that the Government of Gujarat is devoted to implementing governance reforms, promoting transparency, enhancing efficiency, and empowering citizens. As a result of these initiatives, Gujarat has achieved a leading position in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. In the pursuit of building Viksit Bharat, the Gujarat model has emerged as a framework for proactive, responsive, and accountable governance. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always emphasized that good governance is not just a policy but a tradition rooted in efficiency, accountability, and administrative transparency that ultimately benefits citizens, the release said.
The main objective of the government is to ensure that public services are delivered in an efficient, transparent, and easily accessible way. As the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and now PM Modi implemented several reforms to improve good governance in the state. Continuing this vision, the Gujarat government, under Chief Minister Patel's leadership, is now implementing real-time monitoring of various public service processes. This initiative aims to ensure faster, more efficient, and transparent service delivery to citizens. He stated that the Gujarat Government is well-prepared to utilize databases, data management, AI-driven solutions, and citizen-centric services. The government is continuously working to ensure real-time service delivery through digital governance. With these reforms, the citizens of the state will be able to access quick, paperless services anytime and from anywhere. As part of its e-governance and good governance initiatives, several online portals are currently operational, including e-Sarkar, the Karmayogi Application, Digital Gujarat, IFMS, i-Khedut, Vishwas, and Swagat, the release said.
The Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) of the Government of India, V. Srinivas, stated that both the central and state governments are increasingly prioritising the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology in promoting good governance for the public benefit. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Gujarat has received the highest number of 'PM Awards' for best practices in the field of good governance, including initiatives such as the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, Swachh Bharat Mission, and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. He also praised the 'Swagat' online platform, launched in 2003, as an exemplary model of good governance, said the release.
This two-day conference will include six plenary sessions, during which various departments of the Government of Gujarat will showcase their best practices in good governance. Over 100 representatives from 28 states across India will participate, facilitating discussions on effective governance systems that extend beyond Gujarat. The Secretary expressed gratitude to the Government of Gujarat for its excellent and successful organization of the conference, the release mentioned.
The Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, Kamal Dayani, emphasised the importance of e-governance for effective governance. All government offices in Gujarat have adopted e-governance by leveraging technology and moving away from manual processes. In today's fast-paced technological era, citizens expect quicker services, and the state government is responding by delivering more efficient and prompt services through the use of various technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. Departments such as Finance and Revenue in Gujarat are actively working to enhance services for citizens, thereby playing a vital role in promoting good governance, the release said.
The Principal Secretary of the Science and Technology Department of Gujarat, Mona Khandare provided a comprehensive overview of various governance initiatives implemented in the state under the digital vision of the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These initiatives, including e-Gram and the GSWAN network, have played a significant role in advancing digital governance. She emphasized that Gujarat has effectively leveraged digital technology to enhance citizen services and public infrastructure, said the release.
At the conclusion of the programme, Tushaba Shinde, Director of DARPG, expressed gratitude. Meanwhile, Smt. Sarita Chauhan, Joint Secretary of DARPG, Dr S.N. Tripathi, Director General of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, along with senior officials from the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, and various other states, were present at the event, added the release.
Jitendra Singh was impressed during his visit to Gujarat, where he toured the country's first Financial-Tech City, GIFT City. During the visit, Hasmukh Adhia, Chairman of GIFT City and Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, provided the Union Minister with a detailed briefing on the objectives of GIFT City, its available facilities, investment opportunities, and its single-window system. After gaining insights and witnessing the newly established AI Center of Excellence at GIFT City, the Union Minister expressed his appreciation and extended his congratulations to the Government of Gujarat, the release mentioned.