Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS) successfully concluded a three-week Orientation Training Programme for newly promoted Assistant Provident Fund Commissioners (APFCs). The valedictory session was presided over by Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) Ramesh Krishnamurthi, who appreciated the Academy’s efforts in preparing the next generation of EPFO officers with knowledge, empathy, and public service values.
The training programme focused on equipping officers with technical expertise, ethical grounding, and leadership skills. Key themes included Customer-Centric Approach, Ethics, Landmark Court Judgments, Audio-Visual Learning, Design Thinking, and a pioneering module on “Compassion in Governance”, developed to foster empathy and emotional intelligence in public administration.
Officers participated in immersive classroom sessions, outbound experiential learning, team-building exercises, and case-based learning. Weekly assessments, interactive workshops, and audio-visual modules reinforced understanding and engagement. Fifty percent of the curriculum emphasized behavioral and leadership development, with contributions from faculty of premier institutions including the National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad), National Law University (Delhi), India Centre for Governance, and V.V. Giri National Labour Institute.
During the event, CPFC Ramesh Krishnamurthi released a series of booklets authored by trainees, covering book reviews, creative culinary initiatives under the “Delicious Initiative,” and reflections on outbound training experiences. The CPFC also highlighted the upgraded Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) system, featuring advanced validations for EPS membership, international worker status, compliance metrics, and automated calculations under Sections 7Q and 14B to reduce errors and streamline enforcement.
PDUNASS Director Kumar Rohit emphasized the Academy’s commitment to nurturing citizen-centric and compassionate public servants, blending domain knowledge with behavioral competencies. Officers were encouraged to prioritize grievance redressal, citizen satisfaction, and ethical governance.
Trainees were recognized for excellence across multiple domains, including classroom performance, outbound training, iGOT learning platform achievements, and extracurricular activities such as yoga, chess, badminton, table tennis, and cycling.
The programme provided a solid foundation for newly promoted APFCs, equipping them with the professional competencies, ethical grounding, and compassionate leadership required to effectively serve India’s workforce and strengthen the nation’s social security framework.
