The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) organized a governance discourse session titled "Reimagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RGDE)" on August 31, 2026, under the aegis of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS). This event was part of the second edition of Season Two of RGDE and featured participation from senior officers and officials from EPFO and PDUNASS, along with officers from field offices joining virtually from across the country.
Shri Arif Mohammed Khan delivered the keynote address, focusing on the concept of Rajdharma as an enduring ethic of public responsibility. He described Dharma as a principle of righteous conduct and moral obligation, emphasizing that Rajdharma concerns the responsibility of those entrusted with public power and how that power is exercised. Khan stressed the importance of non-discrimination in public life, integrity, empathy, fairness, and the approach where officials seek to serve rather than merely exercise authority. He connected this ethical foundation with the inner discipline expected of public officials, highlighting that conduct should be guided by sincerity, honesty, self-restraint, and consciousness of the moral dimension beyond formal procedures.
Central Provident Fund Commissioner Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthi contextualized the discussion within EPFO's responsibility for providing social security to millions of workers, pensioners, and their families. He emphasized the need to balance legal compliance with empathy and citizen-centric service delivery, particularly as the organization undergoes technological transformation. Krishnamurthi highlighted the importance of officers approaching their responsibilities with a spirit of selfless service, especially when dealing with real-life circumstances behind claims, pensions, and grievances.
Director of PDUNASS Shri Kumar Rohit discussed the enduring relevance of Rajdharma to contemporary public administration, referencing the Bharat-Milap episode at Chitrakoot and Lord Rama's counsel on righteous statecraft. He emphasized that RGDE aims to create a space where civilisational wisdom, institutional experience, and contemporary administrative practice can inform each other, ultimately focusing on serving citizens with fairness, dignity, and responsibility.
The session included an interactive exchange with officers, focusing on the practical application of ethical and civilisational values in everyday administration. Discussions covered situations where officials must exercise judgement, balance rules with circumstances, and maintain empathy while working in increasingly technology-enabled systems. Shri Prashant Sharma, RPFC-I, moderated the session, facilitating the interaction with Shri Khan and connecting the philosophical ideas of Rajdharma with practical realities of public service.