In an effort to strengthen grassroot governance, the Ministry of Rural Development is planning to train 2,000 Block Development Officers (BDOs), focusing the training on decentralised planning . The officers will be trained in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Management Information Systems (MIS), which have become crucial especially with the new rural employment law — Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission. Planning under the new law is driven by the decentralised Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP), linking local wage employment to durable infrastructure. At the administrative level, the training seeks to enhance capabilities in mobilising own source revenue (OSR). The course has been designed by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad.Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal said that training modules such as this are aimed at strengthening the “last mile delivery architecture”. “What makes this initiative unique is its regional hub-based approach, which brings together officers from different States and enables valuable cross-learning and exchange of best practices,” he said. The roadmap also includes creation of a master resource pool, introduction of post-training impact tracking mechanisms, and an open-enrolment system for States and Union Territories. Mr. Kansal said these are practical skills that the BDOs will require going ahead with focus on digital governance. “By strengthening the capacities of BDOs, who are at the forefront of programme delivery, we are investing in more effective grassroots governance, better convergence of schemes and improved development outcomes for rural citizens,” he added. Published - June 04, 2026 07:53 pm IST