In 2025, the annual Conference of the International Institute of Administrative Science (IIAS) will be organized jointly with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
It will take place in the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on February 10-14, 2025.
It will focus on the theme of “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”.
The Conference will consist of plenary sessions, panel sessions and parallel sessions on the conference theme and those brought forward by the organizers’ networks.
Dr. Wolfgang Drechsler and Dr. Suresh Misra will act as scientific chairpersons of the Conference.
The International Institute of Administrative Sciences is a learned society in public administration established in 1930 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It federates ministries, schools of government, national associations, and ministries. It organizes events, publishes scientific material, provides quality assurance services for education, and fulfils advocacy function.
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances is the nodal agency of the Government of India for administrative reforms and redressal of public grievances relating to the states in general and those pertaining to Central Government agencies in particular.The Department disseminates information on important activities of the Government relating to administrative reforms and public grievance redressal through publications and documentation. The Department also undertakes activities in the field of international exchange and cooperation to promote public service reforms. Mission of DARPG is to foster excellence in governance and pursuit of administrative reforms through - Improvements in government structures and processes, Promoting citizen-centric governance with emphasis on grievance redressal, Innovations in e-Governance, Documentation and dissemination of good practices. The DAR&PG has been making endeavours to bring excellence in public service delivery and to redress grievances of citizens in a meaningful manner by effectively coordinating with different Ministries and Departments of the Government and trying to eliminate the causes of grievances.
The conference program will be continuously updated.
Registrations are open!
Category | Fee, GST. excl. |
Members of IIAS/IIASIA/EGPA | USD 500 |
Non-members of IIAS | USD 600 |
India Nationals | USD 200 |
Delegates from South Asia | USD 400 |
IIAS Board Members | USD 400 |
Track Chairpersons | USD 400 |
Students | USD 150 |
Accompanying Persons | USD 300 |
18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be added during checkout
The call for papers is open until November 15th. It contains the following tracks.
Please download it, check the guidelines for presenters, and make a submission!
n | Keyword | Chair, Institution | Full Title |
1 | #NextGeneration | Wolfgang Drechsler, (TalTech RND) et al | Next Generation Administrative Reforms: Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile |
2 | #Minimax | Suresh Misra (Indian Institute of Public Administration | Minimum Government, Maximum Governance: India’s Policy Reform |
3 | #India | Paul Joyce (University of Birmingham) | Public Administration in India: Public governance and public policy, in practice and theory |
4 | #Decolonial | Scott Brenton (UCLouvain) & Kiflie W. Angaw (KU Leuven) | Decolonial Public Administration |
5 | #BRICS | Tamer Qarmout (Doha Institute of Graduate Studies) et al. | Exploring the Complex Landscape of BRICS-Global South Relations |
6 | #Coordination | Juraj Nemec (Masaryk University) et al. | Intergovernmental Coordination |
7 | #Urban-Wildlife | Itai Beeri (University of Haifa) | Navigating the Urban-Wild Interface: Rethinking Governance in the Age of Digitization and Citizen Empowerment |
8 | #SmartCities | Adel Ben Youssef (GREDEG-CNRS & University Côte d’Azur) | Governing Smart Territories: Navigating Innovation, Sustainability, and Emerging Challenges |
9 | #Diffusion | Matti Ylönen (University of Helsinki) | The Diffusion of Rules Governing Digital Platforms, Data and Artificial Intelligence |
10 | #CivicTech | Hiroaki Inatusugu (Waseda University) et al. | Civic Tech in Digitization Society for Next Generation Administrative Reform |
11 | #Digital | Gabriella Racca (University of Torino) & Aristide Police (LUISS University) | Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: Legal Issues in Public Administration |
12 | #4IR | Adel Ben Youssef (GREDEG-CNRS & University Côte d’Azur) | Public Policies and Good Governance of the Industry 4.0 Projects in Africa |
13 | #IRAS | Sabine Kuhlman (University of Potsdam) et al. | International Review of Administrative Sciences |
14 | #Skills | Angela Bourbouli & Fani Komseli (National Centre for Public Administration & Local Government | Advancing Skills and Competencies for Innovation in Public Administration: Shaping the Future of Governance |
Online | #Commons | Marco Meneguzzo (University of Rome Tor Vergata) et al. | IIAS Study Group on Social Innovation, Commons, and Administration |
Please check the following document for more information on visa requirements, health advices, conference venue, transportation, and more useful information.
Dear Participants, Distinguished Guests, and Esteemed Colleagues,
Onbehalf of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), it ismy great pleasure to welcome you to the IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025. Thissignificant event will take place in the vibrant city of New Delhi, India.
Ourtheme, "NextGeneration Administrative Reforms: Empowering Citizens and Reaching
the Last Mile," reflectsour commitment to advancing administrative practices that directly benefit ourcommon denominator, our citizens. As we navigate the complexities of governance,we recognize the pivotal role that innovative reforms play in shaping abrighter future for all.
Throughoutthis conference, we will engage in thought-provoking discussions, share good practices,and explore transformative solutions. Together, we aim to empower citizens by bridginggaps, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Inan era of rapid technological disruption and rising citizen expectations, howcan we reinvent public administration to better serve the needs of our diversepopulations? This is the challenge we have gathered to tackle at the IIAS-DARPGIndia Conference.
Aroundthe world, governments are grappling with complex, interconnected issues – fromclimate change and income inequality to digital transformation and democraticbacksliding. In this climate of uncertainty, public servants must cultivate newskills, adopt agile mindsets, and forge bold, innovative solutions.
Yet,the work does not stop there. We must ensure that the fruits of administrativereform reach the most marginalized communities - empowering citizens, improvingservice delivery, and bridging the digital divide. By harnessing the power oftechnology and grassroots partnerships, we can make the promise of goodgovernance a reality for all.
Thisconference represents a unique opportunity to learn from global practitionersand scholars, share cutting-edge research, and forge internationalcollaborations. Together, we will chart a course towards a more efficient,equitable, and responsive public sector - one that truly puts people at theheart of policymaking.
Iencourage you to actively participate, exchange ideas, and contribute to therich tapestry of knowledge that will emerge from our collective efforts. Let usforge new partnerships, challenge conventional wisdom, and chart a coursetoward administrative excellence.
Once again, welcome to the IIAS-DARPG India Conference2025. Let us embark on this
journey together, as we strive to create administrative systems that trulyserve the needs of our citizens.
Distinguished participants,
It is with great pleasure and immense pride that I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you to the IIAS-DARPG, New Delhi Conference for 2025.
Conferences like these provide a unique platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and the exploration of innovative ideas in the field of Public Administration. They allow us to connect with our peers, learn from one another, and collectively contribute to advancing our fields.
The theme of the 2025 conference is "Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile". We hope to deepen understanding of collaborative approaches to governance, highlight successful strategies, identify challenges, and explore the potential for enhanced cooperation among nations and international organizations.
I am sure that the ambiance of our venue in Bharat Mandapam blended with Indian hospitality, will make your stay during the conference an enriching experience and an enjoyable period which you would like to keep in your memory for a long time. You will also have an opportunity to experience the rich historical heritages of India through the excursion tour.
I wish you all an enjoyable and fulfilling IIAS-DARPG New Delhi Conference 2025 experience with Indian cuisine. Good day
Dear Esteemed Colleagues, Distinguished Guests, and Friends,
It is with great honor and anticipation that I welcome you to the 2025 Annual Conference of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), co-organized with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) of India. This year’s conference is a significant gathering, not only because it brings us together in the globally central, historic and culturally rich city of New Delhi, in itself a built manifestation of different layers of administrative practice across the centuries, but also because it addresses the pressing theme of “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile.”
As we convene at the Bharat Mandapam from 10 to 14 February 2025, we are presented with the unique opportunity to engage with both the challenges and opportunities that define the current and future landscape of Public Administration. The focus of our discussions will be on how to effectively empower citizens and ensure that public services reach every individual, no matter how remote or marginalized.
India, with its vast and diverse population, serves as an ideal setting for this conference. The country is at the forefront of many of the global challenges we seek to address, from digital transformation and public sector capacity building to regional policy contexts and the balancing of rapid modernization with deeply rooted cultural and social traditions. As we explore these issues, we must also consider global implications, drawing on experiences and innovations from around the world.
Our theme, “Next Generation Administrative Reforms,” invites us to look critically at how emerging digital technologies appear to reshape the way governments operate and interact with their citizens – or better, how citizens interact with their governments. These technologies have pros and also cons that are still not sufficiently understood, let alone conceptualized, particularly in terms of ensuring equity and inclusion. As civil servants and scholars, it is our responsibility to ensure that any technological advancements do not exacerbate existing inequalities, but rather contribute to a more just and equitable society.
The challenges we face are multifaceted. The digitization of government services, while promising and in many cases already delivering, requires significant investments in infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital literacy. Moreover, the question of organizational capacities within the public sector needed for this is crucial but still strongly debated among experts. Does digital governance (help) create administrative capacity – or doesn’t the former really require the latter to begin with?
But this conference is not only about discussing challenges; it is about finding solutions. The plenary sessions, panel discussions, and workshops will be carefully curated to encourage deep, thoughtful dialogue and collaboration. We are fortunate at IIAS to always welcome a diverse group of participants, representing different regions, sectors, and disciplines, all united by a shared commitment to advancing public administration in the service of all citizens.
In conclusion, while the focus of many of our discussions will be on administrative reforms in India – a must-know topic for Public Administration scholars everywhere –, the insights that, it is to be hoped, will emerge from this conference will have far-reaching implications. The work we do here together will potentially help shape the future of public administration worldwide, ensuring that it is more responsive, more inclusive, and more capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century.
I eagerly look forward to the insights and collaborations that will emerge from this gathering, and I am confident that our collective efforts will contribute to meaningful advancements in our field. Welcome to New Delhi!
For inquiries, please contact the organizers info@iias-darpg-indiaconference2025.org