Secretaries told to upskill in-house staff instead of hiring consultants

The government has instructed Central Secretaries to equip their officers with specialized skills, such as preparing and tendering documents, drafting legislation, and managing dispute mechanisms, through training within their own departments, rather than engaging consultants from private firms, according to The Indian Express. This directive was conveyed following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 22, and subsequently reinforced by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan in a missive to Secretaries.

Somanathan emphasized the importance of enhancing the capabilities of in-house officers to meet the future demands and objectives of "Viksit Bharat," the government's vision for a developed India. The shift towards training officers over hiring consultants from entities like McKinsey, Ernst & Young, PwC, and Deloitte marks a significant change, as numerous government departments previously relied on private consulting firms for various tasks.

For instance, as of July 25, 2025, the Department of Rural Development had hired 325 consultants, while the Department of Land Resources had engaged 37. These consultants were often utilized to facilitate day-to-day coordination with states and territories, allowing government officers to focus on core policy issues and meet set deadlines.

This directive reflects a broader trend of emphasizing internal capacity building and continuous skill enhancement within the government structure.