On May 19, 2025, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, released the 21st edition of the Secretariat Reforms Report for April 2025. This report highlights transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen-focused governance through the Swachhata Campaign, e-Office implementation, and improved decision-making processes.
Swachhata Campaign: Cleaning and Optimizing
Revenue Generation and Space Management
The Swachhata Campaign has been a cornerstone of administrative reforms, with significant achievements in April 2025. Cleanliness drives were conducted across 10,771 sites nationwide, freeing up approximately 4.35 lakh square feet of office space. Key contributors included the Ministry of Railways (1,74,167 sq. ft) and the Ministry of Coal (99,114 sq. ft). Additionally, ₹129 crore was generated from scrap disposal in April 2025 alone, contributing to a total of ₹2,879.13 crore earned from scrap sales between 2021 and 2025.
Effective record management led to the review of 1,71,193 physical files, with 1,08,838 files weeded out. The campaign also resolved 93.77% of public grievances, disposing of 6,42,005 grievances, 1,674 MP references, and 535 state government references.
| Parameter | SC 1.0-4.0 (2021-2024) | Dec 2024 - April 2025 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Earned (₹ Crore) | 2,364.05 | 515.08 | 2,879.13 |
| Office Space Freed (sq. ft) | - | 4,35,000 | 4,35,000 |
| Files Weeded Out | - | 1,08,838 | 1,08,838 |
| Grievances Disposed | - | 6,42,005 | 6,42,005 |
Efficient Management of Office Spaces
Best Practices in Action
The report highlights innovative practices in office space management. Notable examples include:
- Department of Pharmaceuticals: Transformed cluttered office spaces into clean, organized areas at NIPER-Guwahati.
- Ministry of Heavy Industries: Revamped office spaces at CMTI, Bangalore.
- Department of Health and Family Welfare: Efficient scrap disposal at AIIMS, Guwahati.
These efforts enhance transparency and public accessibility, creating more functional and welcoming office environments.
Boosting Efficiency with e-Office and Delayering
Digital Transformation in Governance
The adoption of e-Office has revolutionized administrative processes. In April 2025, 94.24% of files created were e-Files, and 94.54% of receipts were e-Receipts. Remarkably, 40 Ministries/Departments achieved 100% e-File adoption, and 17 Ministries/Departments recorded 100% e-Receipts. The report also notes 3,225 inter-ministerial file movements, indicating streamlined workflows.
Delayering initiatives have reduced the average distinct transaction levels for active files from 7.19 in 2021 to 4.17 in April 2025, significantly improving decision-making efficiency.
Alignment with Good Governance
Focus on Citizen-Centric Administration
The Secretariat Reforms align with the Government of India’s commitment to digitally enabled governance. By prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and citizen-focused services, these initiatives support the broader goal of administrative excellence. The report also highlights the replication of good governance practices at the state level, showcasing a collaborative approach to reforms.
Key Highlights
- Released on May 19, 2025, the 21st Secretariat Reforms Report emphasizes Swachhata and efficiency.
- ₹2,879.13 crore earned from scrap disposal between 2021 and 2025, with ₹515.08 crore from Dec 2024 to April 2025.
- 4.35 lakh sq. ft of office space freed and 1,08,838 files weeded out in April 2025.
- 94.24% e-Files and 94.54% e-Receipts in April 2025, with 40 Ministries achieving 100% e-File adoption.
- Delayering reduced transaction levels from 7.19 to 4.17, enhancing decision-making efficiency.
- Best practices in office space management implemented at NIPER-Guwahati, CMTI-Bangalore, and AIIMS-Guwahati.