Overview On November 1, 2025 , Dr. Jitendra Singh , Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, chaired a brainstorming session on “Effective Government Communication.” The meeting focused on enhancing public communication strategies to make government messages more relatable, transparent, and impactful. Key secretaries and senior officials from various ministries under his charge participated in the session. Key Objectives Improving public communication strategies. Adopting innovative ways to make government messages relatable. Ensuring transparency in communication. Making government communication more impactful. Key Developments Simplifying Science Communication Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the importance of simplifying science communication by adopting a storytelling approach. He noted that complex scientific achievements can be better understood by the public when explained through simple, relatable narratives. He directed all scientific institutions and laboratories under his ministries to identify and share at least two success stories that effectively communicate how their work benefits society. Whole-of-Government Approach Highlighting the need for consistency, Dr. Jitendra Singh called for a “whole-of-government” approach to communication. This ensures that messages across ministries are aligned and reinforce the broader goals of the government. He emphasized that effective communication is not just about disseminating information but also about building trust, creating awareness, and inspiring citizen participation. Leveraging New Media and MyGov The session also explored leveraging new media and the MyGov platform for broader citizen participation in policy communication. Senior officials discussed how digital platforms have transformed citizen engagement with government information. MyGov was highlighted as a two-way communication platform connecting the government and citizens, facilitating crowd-sourcing of ideas and feedback. Key Participants Rachna Shah , Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) V. Srinivas , Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) Dr. Abhay Karandikar , Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) Dr. M. Ravichandran , Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. N. Kalaiselvi , Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Insights from Senior Officials Dhirendra Ojha, Principal Director General Dhirendra Ojha emphasized the growing importance of clear, credible, and timely communication in a rapidly evolving media environment. He highlighted that government communication must focus on proactive engagement, transparency, and consistency in messaging, with credibility as the cornerstone. B Narayanan, Director General, New Media Wing B Narayanan discussed how digital platforms have transformed citizen access to government information. He noted that digital media offers speed and inclusivity, enabling messages to reach people across geographies and demographics. He urged departments to leverage new media tools strategically for real-time engagement. Senthil Rajan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Senthil Rajan spoke on the need for a “whole-of-society” approach in communication, stressing coordination among government departments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. He suggested partnerships with community organizations and influencers to enhance public understanding and participation. Nand Kumarum, CEO, MyGov Nand Kumarum shared insights on how MyGov has evolved as a two-way communication platform. He highlighted its success in crowd-sourcing ideas and feedback, strengthening participatory governance. He also discussed plans to expand MyGov’s engagement through regional languages and local-level initiatives. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to the UPSC syllabus as it covers aspects of governance, public policy, and the role of communication in effective administration. It is particularly relevant to GS Paper 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) and GS Paper 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) . Potential UPSC Questions Discuss the importance of effective government communication in promoting transparency and accountability. Evaluate the role of digital platforms like MyGov in enhancing citizen participation in governance. Analyze the challenges and opportunities in adopting a 'whole-of-government' approach to communication.