Mission Karmayogi and Indian Knowledge Systems: Capacity Building for a Value-Driven Civil Service

Abstract: The Government of India has embarked upon an ambitious reform agenda for its public service, known as Mission Karmayogi – the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building, approved by the Union Cabinet in

practices while being grounded in Indian values. This paper seeks to explore the degree to which the latter part of the stated mission has been operationalized. The paper has employed a qualitative analysis of official records; official documents; media reports; and classic Indian texts to identify how Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) have gone from merely a statement of intention to an active design principle, particularly within the Karmayogi Competency Framework and the IKS Initiative established by the Capacity Building Commission. The paper argues that the approach is conceptually promising because of its ability to connect competence with ethical orientation. However, the mission’s claim of value development among public servants remains to be tested. Furthermore, the paper concludes that the platform's statistics reflect only exposure and not actual changes in behaviour. The paper also gives recommendations regarding evaluation; source diversity; and the connection between learning and career development.

Keywords: Mission Karmayogi; Indian Knowledge Systems; civil service capacity building; competency framework; public service ethics; iGOT