The Capacity Building Commission (CBC), in collaboration with the Institute of Secretariat Training & Management (ISTM), conducted the Mentee Orientation under the Karmayogi Mentorship Programme – Pilot. Officers who have enrolled as mentees under the Programme participated in the orientation, marking the beginning of their mentorship journey.

Shri Sumeet Singh, Director, CBC, welcomed the participants and set the context for the orientation programme.

Addressing the participants, Shri Jagdeep Gupta, Secretary, CBC, highlighted that the mentor–mentee relationship has been part of our tradition for a long time and has also existed within public services, where experienced officers have guided and supported younger colleagues. He noted that through the Karmayogi Mentorship Programme, CBC is seeking to provide a structured and enabling framework to strengthen such relationships and facilitate sustained professional guidance for public servants.

Delivering the keynote address, Smt. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, CBC, highlighted the importance of mentorship in helping officers navigate the complexities of public service through the experience, perspective and guidance of senior colleagues. She also discussed the background of the initiative and the approach adopted in designing the Programme. As this is being implemented as a pilot, she emphasised that the participating officers are not only mentees, but also important contributors whose experiences and feedback will help shape the future of the Programme.

The orientation sessions were facilitated by Shri Rajiv Manjhi, Director, ISTM, and Shri Deepak Kumar Bisht, Joint Director, ISTM. The sessions focused on mentoring fundamentals, roles and expectations, different forms of mentoring including reverse mentoring, professional boundaries, Individual Development Plans (IDPs), SMART goals and reflective practice.

The completion of the orientation marks the initiation of the mentorship journey for the participating officers. The Karmayogi Mentorship Programme is being implemented as a six-month pilot, and the experiences and learnings emerging from the pilot will guide CBC in further strengthening the framework and shaping the future roll-out of the Programme.