IIM Bodh Gaya to mentor 121 fellows under Bihar CM’s initiative

A new partnership between IIM Bodh Gaya and the Bihar government will anchor the academic framework of the Chief Minister’s Fellowship scheme, an initiative aimed at strengthening policymaking and administrative capacity across the state.

The collaboration is being executed through the Bihar Prashasnik Sudhar Mission Society.

The scheme will place 121 trained young professionals from Bihar in key government offices to assist with research, planning, and governance tasks at the district, divisional, and state levels, including roles within the CM’s Office.

As part of the agreement, IIM Bodh Gaya will manage all academic responsibilities connected to the fellowship.

The institute will design the curriculum, participate in the selection process, deliver classroom instruction, conduct immersion modules, mentor fellows, and carry out periodic evaluations.

The state government will oversee deployment, administration, and financial support.

The institute noted that this structured model is expected to provide fellows with practical exposure to public administration while enabling departments to access specialized skills for development projects.

IIM Bodh Gaya has previously worked with the state on capacity-building programs for officers from the Bihar Administrative Service and Bihar Police Service.

These sessions have focused on themes such as leadership, public service delivery, decision-making, and citizen-centric governance, benefiting departments like Water Resources, Transport, Planning, and Panchayati Raj.

Commenting on the MoU, Director Dr Vinita Sahay said the fellowship is intended to help young professionals build analytical depth, administrative awareness, and leadership capability to contribute meaningfully to governance reforms in Bihar.

The institute added that the initiative aligns with wider national goals connected to Viksit Bharat and the state’s vision for Viksit Bihar.