As part of the nationwide celebrations marking twelve years of transformative governance, Ministry of Minority Affairs today became the first ministry of the Government of India to organise a dedicated “Reforms Utsav” to commemorate twelve years of reform-oriented governance and citizen-centric service delivery.

The event organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, showcased the Ministry’s reform-driven initiatives aimed at ensuring inclusive development, transparency, ease of access and technology-enabled service delivery for minority communities across the country.

The programme was attended by the Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs and senior officers of the Ministry; representatives of all six notified minority communities; and beneficiaries of various schemes of the Ministry from across the country.

Shri Kiren Rijiju in his address highlighted the Government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive growth and empowerment of all sections of society. He stated that technology has emerged as a powerful instrument for improving governance, enhancing transparency and ensuring efficient delivery of welfare schemes. He noted that over the last twelve years, the Ministry has undertaken a series of reforms to make its programmes more accessible, accountable and outcome-oriented.

The Minister reiterated the Government’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where every citizen has access to opportunities, quality education, skills, housing, healthcare, digital connectivity and a dignified livelihood. He said that the experiences shared by beneficiaries during the event reflected the positive impact of various schemes and programmes being implemented by the Ministry.

Shri George Kurian, in his address, emphasised the importance of last-mile delivery and community participation in ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach every eligible beneficiary. He highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen outreach and improve citizen engagement through digital platforms and grassroots networks.

Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, outlined the Ministry’s vision for its third term based on the principles of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform.” He highlighted the significant progress made in digitisation, skill development, educational empowerment and transparency in service delivery. He stressed the need to leverage emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to further improve governance outcomes and citizen experience. From Scholarships to  Skills to Credit to Craft. With data and examples, he sought to powerfully dispel the negative perception around the government's policies towards minorities.

A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and EkStep Foundation to collaborate on digital public infrastructure and AI-enabled initiatives for beneficiary-centric service delivery. The partnership will support the development of innovative digital solutions to connect the youth with local employment opportunities besides enhancing access to government services and improving scheme awareness.

The event also featured presentations and live demo by leading Indian Sovereign AI company Gnani.ai and examples of the power of AI by Sarvam.AI, which showcased proof-of-concept solutions being developed for the Ministry of Minority Affairs aimed at transforming Ministry’s core operations through integration of AI in its various schemes.

One of the key highlights of the Reforms Utsav was also the interactive session with beneficiaries representing diverse minority communities from across the country. Beneficiaries shared their experiences and success stories, highlighting the positive impact of various schemes and initiatives of the Ministry on education, skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood generation.

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