Patna: The Planning & Development Department, Government of Bihar on Tuesday launched a one-day capacity-building workshop aimed at improving the quality of government programme evaluations, reflecting a wider push towards evidence-based policymaking in the state. The workshop, titled Evaluation in Government: Frameworks, Methods, and Reporting, was inaugurated in Patna by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, alongside senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi, Principal Secretary Mayank Barbadé and Secretary Kanwal Tanuj.
The training programme brought together officers and staff from multiple directorates within the department, with a focus on improving transparency and strengthening analytical capacity in evaluating state schemes. Officials said the initiative is intended to ensure that government interventions are assessed through measurable outcomes and robust data, rather than process alone.
In his opening remarks, Mihir Kumar Singh said there is often a gap between the intended and final outcomes of public schemes, arguing that continuous training and a willingness to experiment are essential to narrowing this divide. He urged officials to adopt data-led decision-making and impartial evaluation methods, adding that innovation must become a routine part of governance if programme outcomes are to improve.
Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi highlighted the department’s cross-sector role in coordinating development planning across Bihar, including the assessment and publication of the state’s GDP. She said strengthening the Evaluation Directorate was a priority, noting that systematic evaluation helps ensure accountability and alignment across departments.
A key session of the workshop was delivered by former Development Commissioner S. Siddharth, who discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in government analysis and reporting. He said officials need to become “AI smart” to effectively interpret large datasets, identify trends and support predictive planning, while also using technology responsibly. Experts including Dr. Harendra Prasad, Mr. Manoj Narayan of UNICEF Bihar, Dr. Chandra Singh and Dr. Dilip Kumar also led technical sessions on evaluation design, sampling methods, data collection and report writing.
The workshop concluded with a review of key takeaways and participant feedback, with officials describing the programme as part of a broader effort to strengthen institutional capacity and promote technology-enabled, evidence-based governance across Bihar’s development ecosystem.
