Rajgir: Nalanda University on Wednesday formally inaugurated the Kautilya Global Centre for State Capacity, a new institution dedicated to research, dialogue, and practical engagement on governance and state capacity across the Global South.
The launch event was held at the university campus in Rajgir, Nalanda district, and was attended by senior representatives from national and international institutions. Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, addressed the gathering as the chief guest.
Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Governor of Bihar, and Shri Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, were also present at the event.
Focus on Governance Capacity
In his keynote address, Dr Mishra said the Centre should draw from Asian traditions and the governance experiences of the Global South to build a shared global understanding of state capacity.
“Drawing inspiration from Asian inheritance and the governance experience of the Global South, the Centre should strive towards the cultivation of a shared global capacity for governance thinking,” he said.
He referred to initiatives such as PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat, the JAM trinity, and Mission Karmayogi as examples of India’s efforts to strengthen governance systems and public service delivery. According to Dr Mishra, the Centre can help transform these experiences into knowledge frameworks relevant for other countries.
Dr Mishra also said that many countries in the Global South face challenges not because of a lack of policy ideas, but because institutions often struggle to implement those ideas effectively and consistently.
“Governance is ultimately a moral enterprise, and state capability is ultimately in service of citizens,” he said.
Call for Institutional Collaboration
Addressing the event, Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between universities, policy institutions, and research centres in India and abroad.
He said knowledge-sharing networks would play an important role in shaping future governance systems and improving institutional capacity.
Representatives from organisations including the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, and the Capacity Building Commission attended the inauguration.
Shri Hemang Jani of the World Bank also spoke at the event and highlighted the significance and future scope of the Centre.
Nalanda’s International Role
Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University, said the Centre reflects Nalanda’s larger international mandate as a revived global university established through the East Asia Summit process.
He said the university’s international character and institutional partnerships position it to connect India, Asia, and other countries of the Global South on governance-related issues.
The Centre will collaborate with international institutions including the World Bank, the United Nations system, and the Gates Foundation, along with Indian organisations such as the Capacity Building Commission.
According to the university, the Centre’s initial programmes on research, technical exchange, and capacity building will focus on countries in South and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
