National Informatics Centre Training Unit (NICTU) has been established in 1988 at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie with the object of providing computer related training to the participant and Officer Trainees (OTs) of All India Services at the Academy.

The NIC's Training Unit (NICTU) has been well-equipped with 100 Pentium IV systems, Laptop, XEON Server, Multifunctional Device (MFD), Large Scale Projection System and other latest peripherals. NICTU functions as an independent unit within the Academy and regularly conducts training programmes, educates on the use computer as a tool for e-Governance, GIS, Financial Management & Accounting, etc.

Operational Framework

NIC Training Unit develops and conducts ICT modules, the details are as follows:

| Programme | Duration | Expected Participants | Remarks | | :----------------------------------- | :--------- | :-------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Foundation Course | Aug – Dec (15 Weeks ) | 300-325 | Mixed batch of fresh entrants in various services ( Batch n) | | IAS Professional Course Phase I | Dec – May (26 Weeks ) | 90-100 | IAS OTs of batch n | | IAS professional Course Phase II | June-July (08 weeks) | 90-100 | IAS OTs of batch (n-1). | | Mid Career Training Programme Phase III | (08 weeks) | 100-150 | IAS officers of the seniority of 7-9 years | | Mid Career Training Programme Phase IV | (08 weeks) | 100-150 | IAS Officers of the seniority of 14-16 years. | | Induction Training Programme | 08 Weeks (03 Programmes / year) | 30-40 Per Course | IAS officers promoted from State Civil Services | | Training Programme for ITBP Officers | 01 Week ( 03 –04 Courses / year ) | 10-16 Per Course | The Officers of ITBP, Academy, Mussoorie |

Objective of the ICT Modules

  • Foundation Course- NICTU has a batch of mixed academic and professional background in Foundation Course and this mostly includes OTs who are totally unexposed to computers. This module has two fold objectives:

a. Develop skills in the use of computers by reducing classroom lecture sessions and focusing on hands-on training where each ICT session consists of a short lecture-cum-demonstration session followed by hands-on practice b. Orient the trainees well towards the use of computers, especially in an office environment, by allowing them to solve small problems that bear similarities to real life situations but do not represent them in their totalities.

  • IAS Professional Course: Phase I- ICT Training is intensified for the OTs of IAS, who continue their training at the academy following the Foundation Course. This has three main objectives:

(a) Make the OT proficient in the use of computer i.e. to develop professional skill; (b) Expose the OTs to the concepts of Data Analysis using Spreadsheet, Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), Geographic Information System, E-Governance, MS Project, DevInfoIndia, Client Server Computing, Communication Technology; and (c) Familiarise the OTs with the computing environment i.e. client server computing using SQL server as back end and MS Access as front end, provided by NIC in the districts with the emphasis on E-Governance.

  • IAS Professional Course: Phase II- Phase II programme concentrates on tying up the loose ends together on individual basis. The objectives on a group wise basis are:

a) Ensure proficiency in using computers b) Ensure a good understanding of Systems and related developmental tasks, issues related to Purchase of Computer Hardware and Software, Communication Technology, Web Page Design, Demonstration of Software package and c) Provide a through understanding of the district level E-governance environment in general and on state wise basis.

Continued independent working with computers with little or no help from faculty for performing basic tasks ensures the objective (a). The OTs are expected to understand the capabilities and limitations of computers, to find their use in dispensable for routine tasks to the extent that they can use computers and propagate computer culture in their working environments. Objective (b) - a common factor in all Phase II Modules is achieved through discussions of systems studied by the OTs on individual basis. Several case studies are also included. The idea behind such exposure is that the OTs may in turn interact intelligently and in a realistic manner with computer professionals, with whom they will have been interacting in their professional career.

  • Mid Career Training Programme for IAS Officers (Phase III)- With Prime Minister's initiative, Mid Career Training Programmes for IAS officers of the seniority of 7-9 years has been started since 2007. The course is being conducted at LBSNAA in co-ordination with Duke University, USA. The lectures, hands-on-sessions and the contents of the ICT sessions are designed and conducted according to the Course Co-coordinator of Duke University. The course curriculum emphasises on financial and statistical exposure, advance features of MS Project and MS Excel, detailing about absolute and relative cell referencing, User Defined Formula and In-Built function, Descriptive Statistics, Graphical Analysis and soon.
  • Mid Career Training Programme for IAS Officers (Phase IV)- With Prime Minister's initiative, Mid Career Training Programme for IAS officers with the seniority of 16-17 years has been started since 2007. The course is being conducted at LBSNAA with the co-ordination of IIM, Bangalore and Maxwell School of Syracuse University, USA.
  • Induction Training Programmes- The participants of Induction Training Programmes are not pre-exposed to computers, and are taught about the fundamental of computer hardware and software. The ICT sessions cover Windows XP, Typing Tutor, Internet and E-mail, MS Office, What-If Analysis and Financial Analysis. Spreadsheet packages are used and the attendees are also given practical exercises post the Induction Course.

Methodology: The Methodology includes lecture-cum-demonstration, hands-on practice, case-studies. With this it also comprises of class and take home assignments and presentation by the participants

Course Material: NIC Training Unit develops the course material of ICT for the OTs. The course material is constantly updated according to latest technology. NICTU has developed the course material for Fundamental of Computers, Internet and E-mail, Windows XP, MS Office, Web Page Design, e-Governance etc.

Achievements: NICTU has been dedicated to ICT training to the OTs and the participants of the Academy since 1988. It is a proud privilege for NICians that the ICT training has been acknowledged and well-received by the participants and OTs. The On-Line feedback given by the trainees shows the significance of ICT modules in various training programmes conducted by the Academy during a calendar year.

Excerpts from an appreciation mail by the then Director of the Academy, 2005:

“NIC Training Unit has been playing an important role in imparting computer training to the Civil Servants including senior IAS Officers for more than 16 years. The training conducted by NICTU in Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration over the years has played a vital role in creating awareness about the potential of Information Technology among the Officer Trainees.”

NICTU, has the privilege to be a part of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). NICTU appreciates the support and guidance received from the National Informatics Center HQ, New Delhi and LBSNAA. NICTU is playing a vital role in the ICT arena and has plans to go miles ahead.