The Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) is a training institution of the Government of India that functions as a subordinate office under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It is primarily responsible for imparting induction and in-service training to officers and staff of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS), the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service (CSSS), the Central Secretariat Clerical Service (CSCS), and other categories of central government personnel.
| Type | Government training institution |
|---|---|
| Parent body | Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions |
| Government | Government of India |
| Location | JNU Old Campus, Olof Palme Marg, New Delhi |
| Function | Induction, refresher and specialised training for Central Secretariat services |
ISTM was set up to professionalise the work of the Central Secretariat by providing structured training in office procedure, financial rules, administrative law, human resource management, and policy formulation. It serves as the principal in-house training institution for the non-IAS managerial and supporting cadres that staff the ministries and departments of the Government of India.
The institute is headed by a Director, and is organised into faculties covering subjects such as administration and finance, behavioural sciences, information technology, management services, and training techniques. It also functions as a national-level resource centre on office management and government processes.
ISTM's programmes are aligned with the National Training Policy of the Government of India and with the cadre training plans drawn up by DoPT. Many of its courses follow a competency-based approach, and successful completion of designated courses is a prerequisite for confirmation and promotion in several Secretariat services. The institute also collaborates with foreign training partners and multilateral agencies on capacity-building initiatives.
As the nodal training body for the Central Secretariat, ISTM plays a central role in standardising office procedure and administrative practice across ministries. Its curricula on noting, drafting, file management, and the Manual of Office Procedure shape the day-to-day functioning of the Union government bureaucracy below the all-India services level.