J&K Government Nominates 4 Administrative Secretaries as Nodal Officers for 6th Chief Secretaries Conference
Srinagar, September 9, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has designated four Administrative Secretaries as nodal officers to coordinate preparations and provide inputs on key themes for the 6th National Conference of Chief Secretaries, scheduled to be held in December 2026. The officers have been assigned subjects ranging from the long-term Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and mining sector development to technology-driven governance and measures for speeding up the execution of linear infrastructure projects.
The nominations were approved through Government Order No. 1496-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department on September 8, 2026. Under the order, the concerned officers and departments will coordinate the preparation, compilation and submission of Jammu and Kashmir’s inputs on the themes allocated to them for consideration at the national-level conference.
Four Administrative Secretaries Given Specific Responsibilities
The latest government order assigns four major themes to Administrative Secretaries heading key departments. Each officer will act as the nodal point for preparing relevant material and coordinating inputs from the concerned departments and agencies.
The Planning, Development and Monitoring Department has been assigned the theme concerning five specific priority objectives for each State towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047. The Administrative Secretary of the department will coordinate the Union Territory’s inputs on these long-term development priorities and identify areas that can contribute to the broader national vision for 2047.
The Mining Department has been given responsibility for the theme focused on development of the mining sector towards economic development and improved State finances. The concerned Administrative Secretary will coordinate the required inputs and examine how the sector can contribute to economic activity while also strengthening government revenues and public finances.
The Information Technology Department will handle the theme of Technology in Governance. Its Administrative Secretary has been designated as the nodal officer for coordinating material related to the use of technology and digital solutions in government administration, public services and governance systems.
The fourth responsibility has been assigned to the Public Works (R&B) Department, whose Administrative Secretary will coordinate inputs on Good Practices/New Ideas for Expediting Linear Infrastructure Projects. The focus will be on identifying approaches that can reduce delays and improve the speed and efficiency of implementing infrastructure projects.
Viksit Bharat 2047 Among Major Areas of Discussion
The theme assigned to the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department reflects the wider national focus on the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The objective is to identify specific priorities for states and Union Territories that can support India’s long-term economic and social transformation by the time the country reaches the centenary of Independence.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the exercise provides an opportunity to identify development priorities based on its own administrative requirements and economic potential while aligning them with broader national goals. The nodal department will therefore play an important role in coordinating inputs and ensuring that the Union Territory’s perspective is adequately reflected in the discussions.
The emphasis on clearly defined priority objectives is also aimed at moving beyond broad policy statements and towards measurable areas of development. Inputs prepared for the conference are expected to highlight initiatives, strategies and approaches that can contribute to sustained growth and improved governance.
Mining Sector Linked to Economic Growth and State Finances
Mining is another major theme included in the conference preparations. The Mining Department has been tasked with examining the development of the sector in the context of economic growth and strengthening state finances.
The mining sector can contribute to public revenues through royalties, taxes and other government receipts while also supporting employment, industrial activity and infrastructure development. At the same time, responsible management of mineral resources remains important for ensuring that economic benefits are balanced with regulatory and environmental considerations.
The department’s role as nodal agency will involve coordinating the relevant information and preparing inputs for discussion at the national conference. The exercise is expected to bring together ideas on improving the contribution of the mining sector to economic development and public finances.
Technology in Governance Gets Dedicated Focus
The designation of the Information Technology Department as the nodal department for the theme of Technology in Governance reflects the growing importance of digital tools in public administration.
Technology has increasingly become part of everyday government functioning, from online delivery of public services and digital records to data-based decision-making and integrated administrative platforms. The conference theme provides an opportunity for states and Union Territories to share successful models, innovative approaches and practical solutions that can make government services more accessible and efficient.
Jammu and Kashmir’s inputs under this theme will be coordinated by the Administrative Secretary of the Information Technology Department. The focus is expected to include technology-enabled governance practices that can improve administrative efficiency and strengthen service delivery to citizens.
Faster Execution of Linear Infrastructure Projects
The Public Works (R&B) Department has been assigned another important theme, focusing on good practices and new ideas for expediting linear infrastructure projects.
Linear infrastructure projects often involve roads, highways, transmission lines, pipelines and other developments that extend across multiple locations and can require coordination between several departments and agencies. Delays can arise because of land-related issues, clearances, utility shifting, inter-departmental coordination and other implementation challenges.
The theme assigned to the Public Works (R&B) Department is therefore aimed at identifying practical solutions that can help reduce such delays. The department will coordinate inputs on successful practices and new ideas that could make project execution faster and more efficient.
Sharing such experiences at the Chief Secretaries Conference could help states and Union Territories identify approaches that can be adapted to their own administrative and infrastructure requirements.
Departments Directed to Ensure Timely Coordination
The government order also places emphasis on coordination between the concerned departments. The departments have been directed to work with the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department and ensure that the necessary inputs are collected, compiled and finalised within the required timeframe.
The coordination mechanism is intended to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s submissions are comprehensive and properly aligned with the themes identified for the conference. It also places responsibility on the designated nodal officers to bring together relevant information and inputs from different stakeholders.
Timely preparation will be particularly important because the conference is scheduled for December 2026. The exercise will require departments to examine existing practices, identify relevant initiatives and prepare material that can be presented for wider discussion among senior administrators.
6th National Conference of Chief Secretaries in December
The 6th National Conference of Chief Secretaries, scheduled for December 2026, will bring together senior administrative officials to deliberate on important issues concerning governance, development and policy implementation.
The conference provides a platform for states and Union Territories to discuss their experiences, share successful administrative practices and examine approaches that could be replicated elsewhere. Themes such as economic development, technology, infrastructure and long-term national objectives are expected to form an important part of these discussions.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the preparation of inputs across four separate themes demonstrates the breadth of issues being brought into the conference process. From the long-term Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda to mining, digital governance and infrastructure execution, the subjects cover several important aspects of administration and development.
Government Order Circulated to Senior Officials
Copies of Government Order No. 1496-JK(GAD) of 2026 have also been forwarded to senior officials and the concerned administrative authorities. These include the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Mining Department; Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Public Works (R&B) Department; Commissioner/Secretary, Information Technology Department; and Commissioner/Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, among other concerned authorities.
The circulation of the order ensures that the departments involved are formally informed of the responsibilities assigned to them and can begin the coordination process. The concerned Administrative Secretaries will serve as the nodal points for their respective themes and will work towards finalising the required inputs.
The order was issued on behalf of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir by M. Raju, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department.
Four Themes, One Broader Governance Agenda
The four themes assigned to Jammu and Kashmir’s Administrative Secretaries collectively point towards a broader focus on development, technology and administrative efficiency. Viksit Bharat 2047 brings the long-term national vision into the discussion, while mining focuses on economic activity and public finances.
Technology in governance addresses the rapidly changing nature of public administration and service delivery. The infrastructure theme, meanwhile, looks at one of the most practical challenges facing governments, namely how to ensure that major projects are completed more quickly and with fewer implementation bottlenecks.
With the December conference approaching, the designated nodal officers will now be responsible for coordinating the Union Territory’s contributions across these areas. The exercise is expected to result in a consolidated set of inputs that reflects Jammu and Kashmir’s priorities, experiences and ideas on the themes selected for the 6th National Conference of Chief Secretaries.
