Visit to Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration – 1st July, 2026
Written By: Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee
I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised to visit the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) in Ahmedabad on the 1st of July. This would have to be one of the finest institutions of its kind anywhere in the country. Established to train the government functionaries of the State Government of Gujarat, SPIPA has evolved into a premier institution dedicated to developing human capital through high-quality training in public administration, rural development, local self-government, disaster management and governance.
Spread across an 8-acre campus in the heart of Ahmedabad, SPIPA offers state-of-the-art training infrastructure, including modern lecture halls, seminar rooms, computer laboratories, a well-equipped library, residential hostels and administrative facilities. The Institute also extends its reach through six Regional Training Centres across Gujarat, strengthening capacity building throughout the State.
The diversity and scope of its activities are even more impressive. Not only does it train government officers at virtually every level of the State administration, but it also prepares aspirants for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and other competitive examinations. Through a rigorous selection process, SPIPA provides free, comprehensive coaching, expert faculty, hostel accommodation and monthly stipends to deserving candidates.
The results speak for themselves:
SPIPA’s UPSC Civil Services Study Centre, established by the Government of Gujarat in 1992, attracted over 10,000 applicants this year across six centres.
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, 34 SPIPA-trained candidates were selected for the All India and Central Civil Services, while 76 candidates had earlier qualified for the Personality Test.
35 successful candidates were felicitated by Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, who credited SPIPA’s academic environment and training ecosystem for these remarkable achievements.
That is a genuinely impressive conversion rate for a free, state-supported institution competing with India’s highly commercial coaching industry. It demonstrates what sustained investment in public institutions can achieve over three decades.
As I interacted with the participants, I was reminded that the success of CSR depends not only on corporate commitment but equally on the quality of public leadership. While Corporate Social Responsibility has become an institutional obligation under the Companies Act, an equally compelling concept is emerging within public administration—Individual Social Responsibility (ISR). Mellalli (2021), in a study of civil servants in Karnataka, argues that administrators occupy the centre stage in achieving the objectives of the welfare state and that social responsibility should become an integral part of public administration rather than remaining merely a personal virtue.
This is precisely why institutions like SPIPA are so important. They are not merely preparing candidates to clear the Civil Services Examination; they are shaping future District Collectors, Commissioners, Secretaries and public leaders whose decisions will determine how effectively government, corporates and civil society collaborate to address India’s developmental challenges.
I was invited to speak on the subject of CSR, its evolution over the past decade, and its growing role as an important pillar supporting the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Addressing nearly 200 participants—including civil service aspirants, government officials, academics, teachers and representatives of NGOs—I discussed the remarkable transformation of India’s CSR ecosystem.
A few numbers illustrate this journey:
India’s CSR expenditure has grown 2.47 times over the past decade—from ₹10,066 crore in FY 2014–15 to ₹34,909 crore in FY 2023–24.
The number of companies undertaking CSR has increased from 16,548 to 27,188.
Nearly 98% of listed companies now comply with their CSR obligations, while almost half voluntarily spend beyond the mandated 2%.
CSR activities today span 28 development sectors under Schedule VII of the Companies Act.
The findings of the Karnataka study are particularly revealing. Nearly 90% of civil servants were familiar with the concept of Individual Social Responsibility, and almost 89% believed it influenced them personally. Yet awareness alone did not consistently translate into professional practice, highlighting an important lesson for both public administration and CSR— that values alone are insufficient unless reinforced through institutional culture, leadership, training and accountability.
This mirrors the evolution of CSR itself. During its early years, CSR was often viewed primarily as a compliance requirement. Over time, stronger governance mechanisms, mandatory impact assessments, transparent reporting and institutional accountability have transformed it into a strategic instrument for sustainable development.
I also discussed how the trust deficit that once existed between corporates and NGOs has steadily diminished, resulting in stronger partnerships and greater innovation in the development sector. I explained the significance of the 2021 and 2022 CSR amendments, including mandatory independent impact assessments for larger projects, registration of implementing agencies through CSR-1, and enhanced disclosure through CSR-2 reporting.
The evolution of CSR offers an important lesson for public administration. Just as CSR has matured through stronger governance, impact assessment and accountability, the Karnataka study concludes that civil services too require structured training, institutional reforms, effective supervision and leadership to translate social responsibility into administrative practice. Respondents also emphasised better coordination across government institutions and recognising socially responsible behaviour within professional development systems. If SPIPA’s achievements demonstrate what accountable, well-governed public investment can accomplish, the recent CSR reforms seek to bring the same discipline to corporate social investment through measurable outcomes, transparent reporting and evidence-based impact. Today, both corporates and NGOs are better equipped than ever before to contribute meaningfully to India’s development agenda.
I also responded to several insightful questions from the audience relating to public policy—how policies are conceptualised, shaped, debated and ultimately translated into legislation.
During my visit, I also learnt about the important work of the Gujarat CSR Authority (GCSRA), established by the Government of Gujarat to facilitate CSR partnerships across the State. This presents a unique opportunity.
SPIPA and GCSRA together could pioneer a national model of Government–CSR Capacity Building. Future civil servants could be trained not only in governance and public administration but also in CSR legislation, ESG principles, stakeholder engagement, impact assessment, collaborative governance and public-private partnerships. Such an approach would produce administrators who are equally comfortable working with government systems, corporates and civil society to solve complex developmental challenges.
The Karnataka research recommends greater training, awareness and institutional reforms to embed social responsibility within the civil services. If these recommendations are combined with Gujarat’s institutional strengths in CSR facilitation, SPIPA could emerge as a national centre for excellence in CSR and Public Leadership, preparing administrators who are equipped not only to govern but also to mobilise corporate resources, civil society partnerships and citizen participation towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
In many ways, sustainable development rests on three complementary pillars.
CSR institutionalises the social responsibility of corporations.
ISR nurtures the social responsibility of individuals.
Civil Services embody Institutional Social Responsibility, translating policy into public action.
Together, these three pillars create a holistic development ecosystem where business, government and citizens work in partnership to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable India.
The future of India’s development will not be shaped by government alone, nor by business alone. It will be built through partnerships. If CSR represents the conscience of corporate India, and ISR represents the conscience of the individual, then our civil services represent the conscience of the State. Institutions like SPIPA therefore occupy a unique position—they are not merely preparing future administrators, but shaping the leadership that will enable government, industry and civil society to work together in building a truly Viksit Bharat.
I have to especially thank the very dynamic team of Shri Chandresh Kotak, IAS, Ms. Ruta Bhatt and Shri Parth Desai. Their commitment to excellence and the manner in which they are taking SPIPA to greater heights are truly commendable.
Finally, a special word of thanks to my Escort Officer Shri Divyesh Desai, who looked after me with warmth, efficiency and exceptional professionalism throughout my visit.
