History

On April 15, 1958, the then Union Home Minister Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant announced in the Lok Sabha, that the Government would set up a National Academy of Administration, where training would be given to all the recruits of the Civil Services. The Ministry of Home Affairs also decided to amalgamate the IAS Training School, Delhi and the IAS Staff College, Shimla to form a National Academy of Administration to be setup in Mussoorie’s Charleville Estate. On the first day of September, 1959 curtains were drawn on the training in Metcalfe House. Union Home Minister Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was instrumental in effecting this shift to Mussoorie.

The Charleville Hotel was built in 1854 by General Wilkinson on the grounds of Chajauli Estate, a part of the abutting Chajauli Patti. Was the name Charleville French in origin? Apparently not. The locals always called it ‘Charley-Biley’ – apparently Mr. Hobson, the retired Manager of the Mussoorie Bank, purchased it in 1861 and named it after his two sons: Charlie and Billy.

The grounds of Happy Valley were acquired in 1904 by the brewer V.A. Mackinnon. He started the Happy Valley Club with tennis courts, while gymkhanas were held on the polo ground field. The last record of a ‘Pagal Gymkhana’ dates back to 19^th June 1943, to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War II.

The main building of the erstwhile Charleville complex was destroyed in a fire in 1984. However, its old architecture can still be seen in some of the buildings inside the main campus of the Academy. The Ladies' Block and the G.B. Pant Block were damaged in earthquake of 1991 and on these two sites, the two new buildings viz. 'Dhruvshila' and 'Kalindi Guest House' came up. A part of the “Happy Valley Club” extending right below the Charleville Hotel, now belongs to the Academy. This has the horse-riding ground, the shooting range and the sports club. The racecourse and polo ground, that was carved out of a hillside in 1904, were leased by the Uttar Pradesh government to the Academy. It is used, for housing the horse-riding establishment and conducting various sports events.

In October 1972, the name of the Academy was changed to "Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration" and in July 1973 the word "National" was added to it. The Academy is now known as the “Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration" (LBSNAA). There have been subsequent expansions and several new buildings have been constructed and others acquired over the years.

CHRONOLOGY

1958	Announcement in the Lok Sabha by the Union Home Minister Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant to setup the National Academy of Administration.
1959	Academy established in Mussoorie along with Director's Office, Language Block (later renamed Charleville after renovation), Sardar Patel Hall (SPH) and Happy Valley Guest House.
1960	A common FC for IAS, IFS and other Central Services was introduced.
1969	Sandwich Pattern of training introduced in the Academy which included Phase-I, District Training in the respective State Cadres followed by Phase-II.
1970	Academy functioned under the Ministry of Home Affairs from the date of inception till 1970, again from 1977 to 1985.
1970-1977	Academy functioned under Cabinet Secretariat.
1972	Name changed to “Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration”.
1973	Subsequently, the word “National” was added and it became “Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration”.
1975-1978	Ganga, Kaveri and Narmada hostels constructed.
1984	In May, 1984, a portion of the Campus which housed the Officers' Mess, the Libray, VIP Guest House, Director's Residence etc., was destroyed in a fire accident.
1985	Academy began functioning under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India.
1988	NIC Training Unit established.
1989	Centre for Rural Studies (initially called the Land Reform Unit) established.
1991	In October, 1991, the Uttarkashi earthquake severely damaged the Ladies' Block and the G.B. Pant Block, and on these two sites, 'Dhruvshila' and 'Kalindi Guest House' came up.
1991	Sampoornanand Auditorium constructed by UP Government and named after the 2nd Chief Minister of the State.
1992	Karamshila Building was inaugurated by the then Vice President of India Shri K.R. Narayanan.
1995	National Gender Centre, a registered society under Societies Registration Act-1860, was setup.
1996	Kalindi Bhavan inaugurated by the then Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs Shri S.R. Balasubramaniam.
1996	Dhruvshila Bhavan inaugurated by the then Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs Shri S.R. Balasubramaniam.
2004	Hospital Block inaugurated by the then Minister of Home Affairs Shri Shivraj V. Patil.
2004	Centre for Disaster Management inaugurated.
2010	Gyanshila Building operationalize. Silverwood Executive Hostel was inaugurated.
2012	Mahanadi Executive Hostel was inaugurated.
2014	National Centre for Leadership Development & Competency Assessment (NCLDCA) a registered society under Societies Registration Act-1860, was setup.
2015	Aadharshila Block inaugurated by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh.
2016	Originally established as Centre for Cooperatives & Rural Development in 1995, it was renamed as Centre for Public Systems Management (CPSM).
2017	Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones of the new hostel at Monastry Estate; Horse stables and residences for the horse-riding establishment; and 400m Synthetic Track at Polo ground.
2018	The state of the art Chanakya Hall was inaugurated. Orders were issued for reintroduction of Common Foundation Course (CFC). Director’s assessment of CFC was made a part of overall assessment of members of all services in their final determination of seniority.
2019	Aarambh 1.0- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with Officer Trainees of Indian Civil Services in the first edition of the Integrated Foundation Course, ”Aarambh”
2020	Mission Karmayogi- A new experiment of its kind in the direction of capacity building of civil servants started Aarambh 2.0 on the theme ‘Governance in India @100’
2021	First Common Mid Career Training Programme for for All India Services & Group A Central Services organised in the Academy. Aarambh 3.0 in Kevadia. Inauguration of the Happy Valley Sports Complex by Sh. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister & Sardar Patel Leadership Centre by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble MoS (PP).
2022	Inauguration of Monastery Hostel Complex & DiGiTAG Arena. Happy Valley Civil Services Marathon for the Civil Servants instituted and dedication Polo Ground dedicated to the nation by Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
2023	Inauguration of DiGFAC, National Centre for Law & Administration by Hon’ble Former President Sh. Ram Nath Kovind. Inauguration of Alumni Centre.