Training pedagogy followed

• Classroom Session
• Discussion of best practices
• Simulation Exercises
• Analysis of reports and case studies
• Practical Assignments
• Field visits
• Attachments to organization and institutions
• E-Learning

Details of courses and course modules

Training format

The initial nine and half month training comprises classroom sessions, simulation exercises and field attachments, enabling an engagement across all media platforms. These range from broadcast news to conceiving and implementing social campaigns to new technologies of social media. The officer trainees are also persuaded to learn and appreciate the critical importance of media and communication in governance. With effect from last year, the Officer Trainees have been given exposure to the learning of a foreign language.

On the Job Training: Phase I is followed by a 10 month On the Job Training (OJT), with one month in the field. The training draws to a close with a 2-week Phase II, which also includes a one week foreign attachment.

Phase II: The OTs will return to IIMC and make presentations about what they have learnt during their On-the-Job training and the special projects/assignments handled by them. Upon completion of Phase II Training the OTs will be given their posting orders by the Ministry.

A new initiative has been taken from the 2019 Batch regarding learning foreign languages.

The Induction training is in a format of 3 trimesters. Placed below is the broad course content. Teaching is undertaken in the form of one to two week modules, curated around an area of learning.

First Trimester

• Introductory master classes by eminent media professionals and service seniors on media on a range of relevant topics, ranging from the communication ecosystem, the government system as also emerging technologies.
• Communication Theory, Development Communication & Media landscape in India
• Overview of social media, fake news, infographics- content creation for social media
• Visual Communication, Radio and Television Journalism, Mobile Journalism; with practicals
• Module on Administration and Finance.
• Parliament Attachment

Second Trimester

• Introduction to 360 degree multimedia communication
• Corona and the Government narrative
• Four week training with Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
• Social Sector Communication: Entire IEC. Major social sector initiatives of government, as elaborated in the annual syllabus.
• Last two days: Presentation on ICOP (Integrated Communications & Outreach Programme) for social sector initiative. (Online viewing through Google Meet)
• Economic Sector. IEC thereof, with focus on fundamentals, as also the multi-pronged poverty alleviation ecosystem (2 weeks)
• Internal Security, Crisis Communication & Psy-ops (1 week)
• Defence, Strategic Affairs & Public Diplomacy
• Media Laws Module II: Regulatory framework & Laws related to Broadcast, Advertising, Media Ethics, etc.

Third Trimester

• Basics of marketing Media planning and buying; participatory communication
• Social Media Module II
• Feedback & Media measurement
• E-learning training on IGOT
• Emerging technologies- Artificial Intelligence, podcasting, Vlogging, OTT, Data Analysis, Tackling Fake News, Data Visualization
• Mobile Journalism and Innovative Story-Telling.
• Leadership Communication through great books
• Film Module including Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF),
• CBFC, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) attachment
• Also Publications Division
• Business School Attachment

The evaluation is done through end of trimester examinations and through individual presentation and term papers. The OTs also undertake a North East attachment and an All India Study Tour during Phase I.

Field training

• Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (PRIDE), New Delhi
• Attachment with selected Non Governmental Organization (NGO)
• Defence Attachment with Assam Rifles
• Regional Attachment for ICOP.
• Four-week course at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in TV production and film appreciation.
• Study Tour through Bharat Darshan.
• Community Radio Attachment

Collaboration with other training institutions/faculty members

• Defence Headquarter Training Institute (DHTI), New Delhi
• Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram
• Film and Television Institute of India, Pune

Training of IIS Group ‘B’Probationers

IIMC also organizes the 9-month Foundation Training for the OTs of Senior Grade IIS Group B, which comprises of 6-month classroom training and field attachments followed by the 3 months of OJT. The Junior Grade of IIS Group B probationers are also trained in IIMC for a period of 3 months.