New Delhi, 21st January 2025 – In a groundbreaking step towards building capacity in public administration, the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), has launched a pioneering online course titled “Population Dynamics and Its Implications for Public Policy.”
Hosted on the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform under Mission Karmayogi, this course aims to empower India’s 3.8 million civil servants with the critical knowledge and skills needed to address the complex challenges posed by demographic shifts.
The initiative focuses on:
● Enhancing understanding of demographic shifts and their impact on society.
● Examining scenarios such as low fertility, urbanization, and the demographic dividend.
● Analyzing the influence of population dynamics for public policy.
● Exploring practical policy options to address demographic changes effectively.
The course launch event at IIPA’s Indraprastha Estate brought together prominent dignitaries who reinforced the importance of this initiative.
Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the centrality of data and statistical analysis in policymaking. “Demographic shifts affect every facet of development—from education and healthcare to labor markets and urban planning. This course will be instrumental in equipping government officials to proactively address these challenges,”noted Garg.
Shri S.N. Tripathi, Director General, Indian Institute of Public Administration, emphasized evidence-based policymaking as the cornerstone of effective governance. He remarked, “This course will provide civil servants with the critical insights they need to design policies that are inclusive, targeted, and sustainable, ensuring that governance evolves with the changing needs of our population.”-
Ms. Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director for Bhutan, reaffirmed UNFPA’s dedication to fostering demographic resilience. She stated, “This course is not just about acquiring knowledge—it’s about shaping the future. India is at a demographic turning point, and the decisions today will define India tomorrow. By equipping policymakers with the tools to turn demographic trends into opportunities, India can carve a path to sustainable development.”
Shri Jagadananda, Co-Founder and Mentor, CYSD, shared the vision behind the course, stating, “While CYSD has focused on Odisha’s demographic challenges, we recognized that these issues have national relevance. By partnering with UNFPA and IIPA, we aimed to create a course that offers valuable insights for crafting policies that are inclusive, adaptable, and responsive to the diverse needs of India’s evolving society.”-
This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to the principles of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), advocating for rights-based population policies, gender equality, universal access to healthcare, and sustainable development.
With its broad reach and focus on capacity-building, the course is poised to become a transformative tool in shaping a responsive and future-ready public administration.
Published on: bizrapidx.com | onlinemediacafe.com | onlinenews9.in
