Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that capacity building of the mind, alongside skills, is equally essential for India to remain globally relevant. Speaking at a roundtable on capacity building organized by Nalanda University, the Minister stated that capacity building must evolve from an individual, skill-based approach into a collective and whole-of-society effort to respond effectively to rapidly changing technological and global environment.
Dr. Singh highlighted that the pace of technological and societal evolution has increased tremendously, making continuous learning indispensable. He noted that what one learns today may become outdated by tomorrow, requiring individuals and institutions to develop the capacity to remain continuous learners. The Minister emphasized that institutions must learn to work in an integrated manner and coordinate across organizational boundaries to respond rapidly to new challenges and translate policies into effective implementation.
The Minister stressed the importance of "capacity building of the mind,\" stating that developing the right mindset is critical for individuals and institutions to adapt, innovate and remain relevant. He referenced India's experience of opening up sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private participation, advocating for working across sectors to develop an ecosystem where different stakeholders contribute toward common national objectives.
Dr. Singh highlighted specific institutional mechanisms for capacity building, including the iGOT platform which has more than 40 lakh registered individuals providing continuous learning for government officials. He also mentioned the National Centre for Good Governance and the Indian Institute of Public Administration as part of the governance and capacity building ecosystem, and the potential of the Kautilya Centre to bridge India's historical knowledge with contemporary state capacity.
On research and innovation funding, the Minister referred to the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the ₹1 lakh crore RDI funding initiative, reflecting efforts to create a milieu where private participation and resources can play a greater role. He called for creating a stronger culture of philanthropy for research in India, noting that while philanthropy exists for social causes, research has not traditionally received similar attention.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of international collaboration, particularly with countries in the Global South, for knowledge exchange and capacity-building practices. He concluded that the common objective should be to enable individuals, institutions, government, industry and society to contribute effectively toward India's progress and global relevance.