The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Planning & Development Department of Bihar to provide training in management, leadership, and skill development for its officials. Under this agreement, officials from the Planning & Development Department of Bihar will undergo training in phases. Each batch will participate in a six-day residential session conducted at IIM Bodh Gaya.

Shri K. Senthil Kumar, I.A.S., Principal Secretary of the Planning & Development Department, stated that the MoU aims to equip officials with modern management techniques and skills. He noted that the training would enhance the officials' skills, improve work culture, optimize office management, and increase revenue. During his visit to IIM Bodh Gaya, Shri Kumar reviewed the campus and its training resources.

Dr. Vinita Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, emphasized that the programme will focus on management, leadership, and skill development, enabling officials to perform their duties more effectively.

The Planning & Development Department, Government of Bihar, Patna, is a key department responsible for plan formulation, implementation, and policy determination in Bihar. The department’s scope has expanded significantly in response to the state’s development needs. Its key wings include the Bihar State Planning Board, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Directorate of Evaluation, Local Area Engineering Organization, Bihar Apda Punarwas Evam Punarnirman Society (BAPEPS), Bihar Local Area Development Agency, and the Bihar Statistical System Development Agency.

This collaboration between IIM Bodh Gaya and the Planning & Development Department of Bihar marks a key step toward strengthening the skills of the department's officials and improving services in the state. IIM Bodh Gaya also provides leadership and management training to various departments of the Bihar government, such as the Water Resource Department, State Health Society, Bihar Police Academy, BIPARD, and the Department of Industries, among others.