Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), in collaboration with the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), inaugurated the three-day ‘AI Champions for Digital Governance’ Summit at Hotel Samrat, New Delhi, today. The initiative reflects the organisations’ commitment to advancing the objectives of the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission.
The inaugural session was attended by Smt. S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission, Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Shri Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Joint Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Shri Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE and Smt. Mugdha Sinha, Managing Director, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).
The three-day programme, being held from July 13 to 15, 2026, combines leadership training with hands-on workshops on AI-driven organisational transformation, data-based decision-making and the responsible adoption of generative AI in public sector organisations. The sessions cover AI-enabled productivity, prompt engineering, document analysis, data extraction and drafting using Claude, equipping participants with practical skills to integrate AI into administrative and decision-making processes. It also marks the first programme being conducted by LBSNAA in New Delhi.
The programme has been designed to train senior leadership as well as operational teams in the practical application of artificial intelligence within their organisations, in alignment with the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission.
Delivering the keynote address, Smt S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission, said, “Artificial Intelligence is no longer an optional skill; it is an essential capability for every organisation. The real challenge is not learning how to use AI tools, but understanding where and why to apply them to solve meaningful problems. Building AI readiness requires more than individual skills; it demands organisational transformation, with AI embedded into processes, decision-making and governance. Ultimately, the value of AI will depend on the quality of data, human judgment and the ability of institutions to use it responsibly to deliver better public outcomes.”
Addressing the participants, Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, said, “AI is already helping organisations improve efficiency and productivity, strengthen organisational capabilities and enhance decision-making. Initiatives such as this demonstrate how AI can improve public service delivery, preserve knowledge and make specialised information more accessible, while building institutional proficiency.”
Conveying a message from Shri Sriram Taranikanti, Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Shri Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Joint Director, LBSNAA, said, “AI is often introduced through the language of tools, models and applications, but for leaders it must be understood in a wider frame. AI is not merely an information technology project. It is a leadership challenge, a data governance challenge and, above all, a capacity-building challenge. Its value will ultimately depend not on the sophistication of a demonstration, but on whether it strengthens institutional capability and improves outcomes that matter.”
Shri Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE, said, “Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly a critical area, and organisations that fail to embrace it will find it increasingly difficult to remain competitive in the years ahead. Today’s session marks the beginning of that journey, empowering leaders to adopt AI and, in turn, equip the next generation of leaders and employees with the knowledge and confidence to leverage this transformative technology.”
Elaborating on the initiative, Smt Mugdha Sinha, Managing Director, India Tourism Development Corporation, said, “Following the vision set forth by the Hon’ble Prime Minister through the India–AI Impact Summit, I believe this is the right time to equip our fraternity with future-ready skills that will last a lifetime. Technology has become highly miniaturised and increasingly valuable as more people adopt it. The strong interest shown by all of you reflects this convergence and the immense opportunities it creates.”
The initiative reaffirms the shared commitment of ITDC, SCOPE and LBSNAA to building an AI-ready nation through continuous learning, responsible adoption of technology and leadership development. By strengthening AI capabilities across government institutions and public-sector enterprises, the programme contributes to India’s broader vision of creating future-ready governance systems that support inclusive growth, digital innovation and the objectives of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Digital India.
