India’s economic diplomacy is now moving towards global integration through free trade agreements and strategic partnerships. In this changing scenario, the Central Government has given a clear message to the Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs) that they should no longer be limited to the domestic market only, but should be ready to compete at the international level. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra gave this advice to the top leadership of government companies on Friday.
New era of competition and efficiency
Addressing the inaugural session of the second batch of ‘DAKSH’ leadership development program held in New Delhi, PK Mishra said that globalization and economic reforms have changed the domestic and global scenario. He said that now the debate of ‘public versus private sector’ has become old. Now the focus is completely on efficiency, innovation and competitiveness. Mishra stressed, “As India deepens its ties with the global economy through free trade agreements, CPSEs must be ready to make their mark at the international level.
Important role of CPSE in strategic areas
PK Mishra, citing the Public Sector Enterprise Policy 2021, reminded that even though the private sector is expanding, public sector companies are still essential in strategic sectors like energy, defence, infrastructure and finance. National interest, stability and resilience are paramount in these areas. He also said that markets are not always perfect, and hence public enterprises play an important role in striking ‘balance’ and serving national security interests.
Technology and Innovation: Keys to the Future
The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister laid special emphasis on technical changes. He said that CPSEs should lead in areas like cyber security, data governance and energy transition. Citing the example of the global success of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and UPI, he called on government companies to become technology-oriented.
What is ‘Daksh’ programme?
This program is a major leadership development initiative for senior executives of CPSEs, jointly organized by Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and SCOPE under ‘Mission Karmayogi’.
- structure: It is a transformative 12-month journey that combines digital learning, classroom teaching and international exposure.
- Participant: CBC member Alka Mittal said that 73 officers were trained in the first batch, while 72 participants are included in the second batch. These come from diverse sectors such as energy, space, defence, mining and manufacturing.
- Objective: According to Atul Sobti, Director General of SCOPE, this program will give leaders an opportunity to transform and prepare themselves for future challenges.
This stance of the government suggests that amidst discussions of disinvestment and privatization, government companies in strategic sectors will not only be retained but also modernized and enabled to compete with the global giants.
