The NITI Aayog has directed its divisions to cancel all planned workshops, conferences and seminars with immediate effect. In an internal communication dated May 12, the administration division of NITI Aayog instructed programme directors and heads of divisions — including the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), and NILERD — to suspend all in-person events that had already been scheduled.
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The memo, issued under the subject line “Cancellation of Workshops, Conferences, Seminars, etc.,†said the decision would take effect immediately and apply across divisions. It added that workshops or conferences, if necessary, could instead be conducted virtually, following the format of the recent Budget Webinar organized by the government.
The note did not specify a reason for the abrupt cancellation order, the move comes at a time when several government departments are reassessing administrative expenditure and operational priorities.
The instruction is likely to affect a range of policy consultations, innovation workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions that are routinely hosted. These events often bring together state officials, industry executives, startups, academics and development experts to deliberate on policy implementation and economic reforms. The memo specifically referenced the “NITI for States†workshops and seminars, suggesting that such engagements may continue in digital form rather than through physical gatherings.
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First Published on May 12, 2026, 9:46:10 PM IST
