Gurugram: Haryana government Thursday appointed the first set of officers to its newly established Department of Future, marking the formal establishment of the new department’s structure. The Department of Future, announced by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini during his budget speech in March, is believed to be first-of-its-kind in India, focusing on strategic foresight and long-term planning for the state’s development.
According to an official order issued by the chief secretary on behalf of Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, 2001-batch IAS officer Amneet P. Kumar has been appointed commissioner and secretary of the department. She will hold the charge in addition to her current roles as the commissioner and secretary of the fisheries and archives departments.
The order said 2011-batch IAS officer Aditya Dahiya has been appointed director of the Department of Future. He will continue to hold his existing responsibilities including as the special secretary to the personnel, training and parliamentary affairs department.
Both the appointments were made against newly created posts, indicating the formal establishment of the department’s structure.
‘Haryana’s strategic think-tank’
While announcing the formation of the new department, Saini said it is meant to serve as Haryana’s strategic think-tank to analyse global trends, forecast risks and formulate policies to ensure sustained growth.
He also said it would focus on key areas such as climate change preparedness, Artificial Intelligence, automation and economic resilience, while driving Haryana’s push towards AI adoption, and integrating robotics and emerging technology with governance and industry.
While the official notification does not specify the department’s objectives, a senior officer in the state government told ThePrint Thursday it will focus on preparing Haryana for emerging challenges and opportunities in areas such as climate change, technological disruption, demographic shifts, and economic transitions.
He said the department is expected to work across various sectors to ensure policy preparedness for future scenarios, conducting forward-looking research, and coordinating with other departments to integrate future-oriented thinking into governance.
“This innovative department represents Haryana’s commitment to proactive governance rather than reactive policymaking,” said the officer. “The goal is to anticipate challenges before they become crises and capture opportunities before they pass us by.”
Praveen Attrey, media secretary to CM Saini, told ThePrint that Haryana is the first state in the country to have launched such a department.
“While several countries including Singapore, Finland, and the UAE have established similar government bodies focused on future planning and scenarios, Haryana will be pioneering this approach among Indian states,” he said.
(Edited By Ajeet Tiwari)
Also read: Saini unfazed as rivals, farm leaders slam Haryana govt for making DSP apologise to BJP functionary