SME Engagement

India’s civil servants are the primary interface between the state and citizens, and their capability is central to effective governance and public service delivery. Mission Karmayogi represents the Government of India’s commitment to building a future-ready, citizen-centric civil service through continuous, competency-based learning.

As the strategic arm of Mission Karmayogi, the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) maintains a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Pool through the UNNATI Portal.

In line with the understanding that civil service capability development extends beyond digital learning to in-person, institute-delivered training, CBC has initiated an empanelment process. Built solely on voluntary engagement, the pool unites a diverse set of experts, practitioners, trainers, and academicians, whose contributions will support the creation, updation and delivery of in-person training courses in the TIs.

This engagement is intended to ensure that in-person training courses delivered by TIs are aligned with the Capacity Building Plan (CBP) and capacity gaps identified through the CBP, thereby making training more impactful and responsive to the capacity building priorities of the concerned State/Department.

SMEs volunteering under this ToR do so in the spirit of contributing to improving the quality and relevance of training courses delivered by TIs, and in furtherance of the broader goals of Mission Karmayogi.

This ToR does not constitute a fresh recruitment or selection process; it governs the terms of engagement of an SME, identified from the UNNATI Portal, to one or more TIs.

Each SME is paired with a State ATI at the sole discretion of the Capacity Building Commission and in consultation with the relevant Training Institute(s) to the extent possible.

No tiering is established under this engagement. All Experts engaged with TIs under this ToR hold the single, undifferentiated designation of “SME.”

This engagement is entirely voluntary and does not create any employer-employee relationship between the SME and CBC or the TI, and confers no right on the SME to claim regularisation, absorption, or permanent employment with CBC, the TI, or the Government.

SMEs, by virtue of their listing on the UNNATI Portal, may be approached by, or may engage with, other Training Institutes for similar support in creating, updating, facilitating or delivering training courses as per the outputs of the Capacity Building Plan tool. Such independent engagements are not precluded by this ToR. However, the SME’s assignment under this engagement is to a specific ATI (or, as the scope of this engagement expands, to an apex/Central Training Institute), and the intent of the SME’s effort under this ToR is to build training capacities vertically downwards, toward the Domain, Zonal, and other State-level Training Institutes, rather than horizontally or upward toward other apex or premier institutes. Accordingly, SMEs are encouraged to direct their efforts toward identifying and facilitating capacity-building pathways for State-level domain and regional Training Institutes within the assigned ATI’s or other Apex TI’s fold.

SMEs should have a minimum of twenty (20) years of relevant professional experience, with at least five (5) years of specialized expertise in the concerned sector(s) at the time of application. For emerging domains, relevant experience is assessed accordingly.

Shortlisting of an SME will be done by CBC, through a committee duly constituted for the same, from time to time.

It shall be the responsibility of the SME to ensure that they are not subject to any vigilance inquiry, disciplinary proceeding, pending criminal proceedings, or any other matter that may render them unsuitable for the professional responsibility as SME.

Where it is found, at any stage of the engagement, that the SME did not meet the conditions under paragraph 4.1 or 4.3, or that any material fact in this regard was suppressed, the SME shall be liable to immediate discontinuation of engagement, without prejudice to any other action CBC may deem fit.

The role of the SME includes supporting and guiding the TI in any or all of the following:

• Reviewing existing in-person training courses offered by the TI and identifying gaps in content, structure, and relevance.
• Designing and developing new training courses/modules, with inputs from the TI, based on the training needs of the concerned State/Department, as reflected in its Capacity Building Plan.
• Updating and refreshing existing course content, with support from the TI, to ensure continued accuracy, relevance, and applicability.
• Mapping institute-based courses against the Karmayogi Competency Model (KCM), in coordination with TI faculty, flagging gaps requiring alignment.
• Providing inputs to TI faculty on pedagogy, case-based/scenario-based design, and assessment.
• Delivering and/or facilitating delivery of the courses developed during this engagement.

These are indicative in nature and not exhaustive.

Visits to the assigned TI shall be undertaken on a need basis, as determined by course development/updation requirements, in coordination with the TI. The total number of visits to be undertaken during this engagement must be in accordance with policy mentioned under Section 7.

It is the sole responsibility of the TI to leverage to the fullest, the opportunities for capacity building with the SME and ensure that creation, updation, curation and delivery of CBP-aligned training courses is carried out. The TI shall extend necessary institutional support to the SME, including access to relevant faculty, course material, and administrative facilitation to enable effective discharge of the responsibilities under this ToR.

Engagement under this ToR is established for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of engagement/onboarding to the TI.

The engagement may be renewed for a further period, subject to continuing requirement and demonstrated expertise and impact, at the discretion of CBC.

Engagement with a given TI remains subject to reassignment, extension, or discontinuation by CBC based on administrative considerations or project progress.

Engagement of SMEs under this ToR is an invitation extended by CBC on UNNATI to professionals and domain/subject matter experts to voluntarily offer their services (on a purely voluntary and non-compensation basis) in furtherance of the vision under Mission Karmayogi of a future-ready, citizen-centric public service.

In recognition of the voluntary services rendered, CBC will earmark a monthly honorarium, the quantum of which shall be determined by CBC, as a mark of acknowledgement of the SME’s contribution. The disbursement of honorarium for the SME shall begin from the day of deployment to a TI, as notified by CBC.

Disbursement of travel costs for visits to the TIs, along with reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses during travel, in case of or including the absence of arrangements made by the TI, will be further notified by the CBC and will be in line with GoI travel norms.

CBC shall bear the travel expenses for a maximum of four (4) institute visits per SME. Additional visits may be conducted provided the costs are entirely borne by the assigned Training Institute.

The Training Institution (TI) may, at its own discretion and as per its internal policies, separately pay the SME an honorarium in respect of each visit to the institute. Any such honorarium is a matter entirely between the SME and the concerned TI, and shall not constitute an obligation of, or be routed through, CBC.

Other than the honorarium and travel reimbursement referred to above, the SME shall not have any other financial engagement, directly or indirectly, including consultancy, project-based, or other paid arrangements, with the assigned Training Institution during the period of course creation, curation, or updation under this engagement.

The SME shall disclose any personal, professional, or institutional interest in the courses or matters under consideration at the concerned TI, at the time of assignment and on an ongoing basis.

Where a conflict of interest arises in relation to a specific course or assignment, the SME shall recuse themselves and notify CBC.

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest shall be treated as a performance issue and may result in discontinuation of the engagement.

CBC may discontinue an SME’s engagement with a Training Institution for cause, including undisclosed conflict of interest, breach of the conditions under paragraph 4.1 or 4.3, or breach of the terms of this ToR. Before such discontinuation, CBC shall issue a notice of not less than fifteen (15) days to the SME, setting out the grounds therefor, and shall provide the SME an opportunity to submit a response before a final decision is taken.

Either the SME or the TI may request reassignment or discontinuation of the engagement, for reasons to be recorded, subject to CBC’s approval.

All training courses, modules, and content created or updated by the SME under this engagement shall vest in, and be the property of, the concerned TI, on whose behalf such content has been developed.

The SME shall not use, reproduce, or claim ownership over such content for any purpose outside this engagement, without the prior written consent of the TI.

The SME shall maintain confidentiality of all information, records, and material accessed in the course of this engagement, and shall not disclose the same to any third party without the prior written consent of CBC and the TI.

This obligation of confidentiality shall survive the termination or discontinuation of this engagement.

Engagement under this ToR is in addition to, and distinct from, the SME’s existing engagement with Karmayogi Bharat for iGOT content review. The terms and conditions governing that engagement shall remain unaffected and shall continue to apply as per the terms set out therein.