Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates Third Batch of DAKSH Leadership Programme for CPSU Executives – Indian PSU

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday inaugurated the third batch of DAKSH (Development of Aspiration, Knowledge, Succession & Harmony), the flagship leadership development programme jointly organised by the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) and the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), reaffirming the Government’s commitment to building future-ready leadership for India’s Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Ms. S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission (CBC); Shri K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE); Dr. K.P. Mahadevaswamy, Chairman, SCOPE and CMD, NBCC; Dr. Alka Mittal, Member, CBC; Roop Narayan Sunkar, Member, PESB; Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Vice Chairman, SCOPE and CMD, Goa Shipyard Limited; Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE, along with senior government officials, PESB members and leaders from CPSUs.

The third batch of DAKSH comprises 70 executives drawn from Public Sector Enterprises across diverse sectors. The 12-month immersive leadership programme has been designed to equip participants with strategic, behavioural and transformational competencies required to lead organisations in an increasingly dynamic and technology-driven environment.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised SCOPE and CBC for conceptualising and successfully implementing DAKSH, noting that several alumni from the earlier batches have already been appointed to Board-level positions in CPSUs. He encouraged the new cohort to embrace interactive and technology-enabled learning to understand global leadership practices rather than relying solely on conventional classroom methods.

The Union Minister also welcomed the increasing participation of women in the programme, highlighting that 10 women executives are part of the third batch, reflecting the Government’s emphasis on inclusive leadership development.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. S. Radha Chauhan said that rapid advancements in agentic Artificial Intelligence and evolving technology ecosystems are transforming governance and public administration. She stressed that citizen-centric leadership would be critical in this changing landscape and urged participants to make full use of every learning opportunity offered through the programme.

Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, K. Moses Chalai, underlined the pivotal role played by Public Sector Enterprises in India’s economy. He observed that as CPSUs continue to evolve in response to changing national and global priorities, visionary leadership has become indispensable. He described DAKSH as an important platform for nurturing talent and preparing future leaders for the public sector.

Dr. K.P. Mahadevaswamy expressed gratitude to Dr. Jitendra Singh for inaugurating the programme and reiterated the Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity. He remarked that the real strength of any organisation lies not merely in its assets but in the quality of its people and the leaders it develops.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, SCOPE Director General Shri Atul Sobti said the programme represents far more than a formal inauguration. He said organisations that invest in developing future leadership consistently achieve sustainable success. As governance and business environments become increasingly complex, he added, DAKSH offers participants a unique opportunity to develop strategic vision and cross-functional leadership capabilities.

Dr. Alka Mittal said that Public Sector Enterprises remain among the strongest instruments for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. She noted that DAKSH seeks to create leaders who are strategic in thinking, principled in conduct, resilient in approach and firmly grounded in ethical values.

Representing the academic partner, Prof. Madan Pillutla of the Indian School of Business (ISB) expressed pride in the institute’s association with DAKSH. He affirmed that as the knowledge partner for the third batch, ISB is committed to delivering a world-class leadership learning experience to all participants.

Concluding the event, Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay delivered the vote of thanks, emphasising that as India advances towards becoming a developed nation, strong leadership within Public Sector Enterprises will play an increasingly vital role. He said DAKSH aims to inspire, prepare and unite future leaders who will contribute significantly to the country’s development journey.