New Delhi: The Officer Trainees of the 2025 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Seva Teerth earlier today.
The group comprised 50 IFS Officer Trainees from different States and Union Territories across the country. During the interaction, the Prime Minister shared his views on the evolving role of young Indian diplomats and urged them to build deeper connections with local communities in their future countries of posting.
The Prime Minister called upon the young diplomats to combine India’s civilisational strengths with technology, innovation and effective communication to further strengthen the country’s engagement with the world.
PM Urges Young Diplomats to Build Grassroots-Level Engagement
A key focus of the Prime Minister’s interaction was the need for Indian diplomats to develop strong grassroots-level engagement in their countries of posting.
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PM Modi said Indian Missions should foster meaningful relationships not only with governments and major institutions but also with people and communities at the local level.
He encouraged the Officer Trainees to expand their networks beyond traditional diplomatic circles and deepen their engagement with local communities. Such people-to-people connections, he indicated, can play an important role in strengthening India’s long-term relationships across the world.
The Prime Minister also urged the young diplomats to understand and utilise India’s civilisational strengths while embracing modern technology and innovative methods of communication.
Young IFS Officers Asked to Drive India’s Economic Engagement
PM Modi called upon the 2025-batch IFS Officer Trainees to serve as catalytic agents for India’s economic engagement with the world.
The interaction highlighted the growing importance of economic diplomacy in the role of Indian Missions abroad. The Prime Minister encouraged the young diplomats to contribute actively towards strengthening India’s engagement with international partners.
As India expands its global economic footprint, the Prime Minister’s message placed emphasis on the role of diplomats in facilitating stronger connections and engagement between India and the rest of the world.
PM Stresses Stronger Digital Presence of Indian Missions
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of strengthening the digital presence of Indian Missions across the world.
He observed that a website is often the first gateway through which people interact with an institution. In this context, he called for greater use of technology to make the delivery of consular and other services more seamless, responsive and citizen-centric.
The focus on digital outreach reflects the increasing importance of online platforms in diplomacy and public engagement. Indian Missions were encouraged to use technology effectively to improve communication and facilitate easier access to services.
Promote India’s Civilisational, Cultural and Geographical Strengths
PM Modi urged the Officer Trainees to work towards making India a more attractive global tourism destination.
He asked them to showcase India’s civilisational, cultural and geographical strengths before international audiences and contribute to generating greater interest in the country.
The Prime Minister suggested leveraging the “Bharat ko Janiye” (Know India) Quiz to increase awareness and interest in India among young people across the world.
He also encouraged the use of emerging tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and gaming to make such initiatives more engaging and accessible to younger global audiences.
Officer Trainees Share Training and Bharat Darshan Experiences
During the interaction, the 50 Officer Trainees shared their experiences from their training and Bharat Darshan.
They also spoke about the importance of understanding India’s civilisational and cultural links with different parts of the world.
The interaction provided the young diplomats an opportunity to discuss their learning experiences and reflect on the role of India’s historical, cultural and civilisational connections in strengthening its contemporary global engagement.
Focus on a New Generation of Indian Diplomats
The meeting underscored the importance of preparing the next generation of Indian diplomats for an increasingly interconnected global environment.
From building relationships at the grassroots level and advancing economic engagement to improving digital services and promoting India’s tourism potential, the Prime Minister outlined a broad set of priorities for the young IFS officers as they prepare for diplomatic assignments.
With 50 Officer Trainees from the 2025 batch now undergoing training, the interaction highlighted the expectation that India’s future diplomats will combine traditional diplomacy with technology, innovation, people-to-people engagement and stronger communication to deepen India’s connection with the world.
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