Actiona Plans

Five-Year Implementation Plan (2026-2031)
For the benefit of State Governments and Union Territories in India

1. Vision

To build a harmonized, data-driven, and modern governance ecosystem across all Indian States and Union Territories through institutional collaboration, optimized resource utilization, and technology-enabled transformation.

2. Mission

To operationalize SOHAM as a national-level Inter-University Institution that assists States and UTs in:

• Enhancing departmental efficiency and accountability.

• Harmonizing inter-departmental and inter-state operations.

• Modernizing administrative systems through technology and innovation.

• Empowering officials and institutions through training, research, and collaboration.

3. Strategic Focus (2026-2031)

 

Pillar	Strategic Focus Area	Intended Impact
Optimization	Improve departmental efficiency and resource management	Rationalized expenditure and improved outcomes
Harmonization	Align inter-departmental and inter-state systems	Reduced duplication and policy conflicts
Modernization	Integrate digital tools and smart processes	Transparent, responsive, and citizen-centric governance
Capacity Building	Enhance human capital and institutional competence	Skilled, adaptive, and innovative public administration
Research & Innovation	Foster evidence-based governance	Academic�policy�practice linkage strengthened

4. Five-Year Phased Implementation Plan
Phase I: Institutional Establishment & Planning (Year 1: 2026-27)

Objective: Create the foundational institutional and policy framework for SOHAM.

Major Activities:

1.     Set up SOHAM Headquarters at a designated Central/Inter-University Campus.

2.     Establish Regional SOHAM Centres (North, South, East, West, Northeast) in major universities.

3.     Form SOHAM Governing Council and Expert Advisory Board with representatives from NITI Aayog, State Governments, academia, and industry.

4.     Conduct State/UT Baseline Assessments for governance systems, efficiency indicators, and resource utilization.

5.     Develop the "State Resource Optimization Framework (SROF)" - a national model for efficiency evaluation.

6.     Launch SOHAM Digital Portal - a collaborative knowledge and data-sharing platform.

7.     Design Training Curriculum for departmental heads and PSU/autonomous body managers.

Outputs:

• Institutional setup completed.

• Baseline database for all participating States/UTs.

• National optimization framework finalized.

Phase II: Pilot Implementation and Demonstration (Year 2: 2027�28)

Objective: Test and validate optimization and modernization models in selected States/UTs.

Major Activities:

1.     Select 6 Pilot States/UTs representing diverse administrative contexts.

2.     Conduct Departmental Efficiency Audits (Health, Education, Industry, Finance, Rural Development, Urban Administration).

3.     Implement Optimization Pilots:

o   Workflow restructuring.

o   Budget rationalization.

o   HR redeployment.

o   ICT process integration.

4.     Deploy SOHAM Efficiency Dashboard (SED) - real-time performance monitoring system.

5.     Initiate Capacity-Building Programs in partnership with State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs).

6.     Publish First Annual "SOHAM Efficiency Report."

Outputs:

• Pilot optimization results in selected States/UTs.

• Operational SOHAM Dashboard and reporting mechanism.

• 500+ officials trained in optimization and modernization strategies.

Phase III: Expansion and Harmonization (Year 3: 2028-29)

Objective: Scale up successful strategies across all States/UTs and institutionalize harmonization mechanisms.

Major Activities:

1.     Roll out SROF and SED systems to all States/UTs.

2.     Develop Inter-Departmental Coordination Frameworks for policy harmonization.

3.     Facilitate Inter-State Knowledge Exchange Forums through SOHAM's regional centres.

4.     Introduce the SOHAM Index of Governance Efficiency (SIGE) to benchmark States/UTs annually.

5.     Launch Thematic Research Networks (E-Governance, Digital Economy, Infrastructure, Health Systems).

6.     Initiate Modernization Partnerships with select PSUs and autonomous bodies.

Outputs:

• Harmonization protocols adopted by majority of States/UTs.

• Annual benchmarking system operational.

• 10+ cross-state collaborative initiatives launched.

Phase IV: Digital Modernization and Institutional Empowerment (Year 4: 2029-30)

Objective: Deepen modernization through technology, data integration, and administrative innovation.

Major Activities:

1.     Implement SOHAM Integrated Governance Platform (SIGP) - unified data and process platform for States/UTs.

2.     Introduce E-Governance Modernization Toolkits for all departments.

3.     Set up State Modernization Support Units (SMSUs) under the guidance of SOHAM Centres.

4.     Deploy AI & Analytics Models for predictive decision support in budget planning and resource management.

5.     Introduce "SOHAM Excellence Awards" for innovative departments and State PSUs.

6.     Expand SOHAM Academy for Governance Excellence - online learning ecosystem.

Outputs:

• Digital modernization institutionalized.

• Interoperable e-governance systems across departments.

• 5,000+ officials trained in modern digital governance practices.

Phase V: Consolidation, Evaluation & Sustainability (Year 5: 2030-31)

Objective: Institutionalize best practices, evaluate impact, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Major Activities:

1.     Comprehensive Evaluation Study of SOHAM's five-year performance and State-level impact.

2.     Codify Best Practices and SOPs for replication and scale-up.

3.     Publish the "India Governance Modernization Compendium."

4.     Establish Permanent SOHAM-State Partnership Cells for ongoing collaboration.

5.     Secure Long-Term Funding Model: Endowment fund, CSR collaborations, and government support.

6.     Prepare 10-Year SOHAM 2.0 Roadmap (2031-2041).

Outputs:

• Evaluated and refined modernization framework.

• Institutionalized partnerships across all States/UTs.

• Long-term sustainability model adopted.

5. Implementation Framework

A. Institutional Mechanisms

 

Level	Body	Function
National	SOHAM Governing Council	Policy direction and coordination with MoE & NITI Aayog
National	SOHAM Secretariat (HQ)	Operational management, data analysis, and reporting
Regional	SOHAM Regional Centres	Capacity-building, research, and inter-state collaboration
State	State SOHAM Node / ATI	Local implementation and feedback
Academic	Inter-University Research Network	Research, innovation, and evaluation support

B. Stakeholder Engagement

• Central Level: Ministry of Education, NITI Aayog, Digital India Mission.

• State Level: Chief Secretaries, Administrative Training Institutes, Planning Departments.

• Academic Partners: Central and State Universities.

• Technology Partners: NIC, private tech firms, and public digital initiatives.

• Civil Society & Industry: For innovation and feedback integration.

6. Resource Requirements

 

Component	Estimated Allocation (Crores)	Funding Source
Institutional Setup (HQ + 5 Regional Centres)	200	Ministry of Education / HEFA
Digital Infrastructure & Portals	150	Digital India / MeitY
Training & Capacity Building	100	State ATIs / DoPT
Research & Policy Studies	75	UGC / ICSSR / State Universities
Pilot and Expansion Projects	250	State Governments / CSR / PPP
Monitoring & Evaluation	25	NITI Aayog / MoSPI
Total (5 Years)	≈ ₹800 Crores	Multi-source funding

7. Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1.     Reduction in departmental duplication and delays.

2.     Percentage of departments adopting optimized workflows.

3.     Increase in inter-departmental policy alignment.

4.     Improvement in SOHAM Governance Efficiency Index (SIGE) scores.

5.     Number of officials trained and certified.

6.     Volume of budgetary savings and productivity gains.

7.     Citizen satisfaction and service delivery indices.

8. Expected Outcomes by 2031

• All States/UTs onboarded on the SOHAM platform.

• 10�20% improvement in departmental operational efficiency.

• Complete digital dashboards for 80% of key departments.

• Institutionalized policy harmonization across major governance sectors.

• Established academic-government network sustaining continuous modernization.

Conclusion

Over five years, the SOHAM Project will evolve from a conceptual framework to a fully operational, technology-driven institutional ecosystem. By systematically optimizing resources, harmonizing systems, and modernizing governance, SOHAM will serve as a national model for administrative excellence, directly benefiting every State Government and Union Territory in India through measurable efficiency, accountability, and innovation.