Patna: Trainee officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Batch 2025, currently undergoing their professional training, visited various departments of the Bihar government on Wednesday as part of a structured state familiarisation programme. The visit aims to provide the young diplomats with a comprehensive understanding of Bihar’s development initiatives, administrative priorities, cultural heritage, tourism potential, and its role in India’s broader growth narrative.
The training programme commenced on January 19 and will continue till January 23, during which the officers are being exposed to governance models, sectoral policies, and grassroots development frameworks across the state.
Interaction with Key Ministers and Senior Officials
As part of the programme, the IFS probationers held detailed interactions with senior ministers and top bureaucrats of the state government. On Wednesday, the officers met:
Tourism Minister Arun Shankar Prasad
- Science, Technology and Technical Education Minister Sunil Kumar
- Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Pratima
- Secretary, Art and Culture Department, Pranav Kumar
- Tourism Director-cum-Special Secretary, Udayan Mishra
These interactions were aimed at giving the officers in-depth exposure to Bihar’s policy priorities, development vision, and sector-specific progress.
Focus on Bihar’s Rich Cultural Heritage and Tourism Potential
Tourism Minister Arun Shankar Prasad formally welcomed the trainee officers at the tourism department office located in the main secretariat. Senior officials from the art and culture and tourism departments provided extensive briefings on Bihar’s:
- Ancient historical legacy
- World-renowned spiritual and religious sites
- Vibrant cultural traditions
- Traditional art forms and crafts
- Expanding tourism infrastructure
The officers were briefed on the state government’s long-term vision to position Bihar prominently on the global tourism map. Discussions also highlighted opportunities for international promotion, investment, and collaboration in the tourism sector.
Officers from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) met Hon’ble Minister of Tourism Shri Arun Shankar Prasad, Secretary, Art & Culture Shri Pranav Kumar, and Director Tourism Shri Udayan Mishra to gain deeper insights into Bihar.
— Bihar Tourism (@TourismBiharGov) January 21, 2026
The interaction highlighted Bihar’s rich historical… pic.twitter.com/DTfa1mRcWg
Exposure to Aspirational Districts and ODOP Initiatives
Under the training programme, the IFS trainees will visit major tourist destinations, aspirational districts, and One District One Product (ODOP) districts across Bihar. These visits are intended to help the officers understand how local-level initiatives contribute to national objectives and how Bihar aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
According to an official press release,
“This visit of IFS trainee officers is an opportunity to showcase Bihar’s development plans at national and international levels, which will accelerate the state’s economic progress in the future.”
Discussions on Global Affairs and Role of Bihar on the International Stage
At the Science, Technology and Technical Education Department, discussions focused on India’s evolving role in the global order, emerging geopolitical developments, and contemporary international challenges. The role and contribution of the Bihari diaspora at the global level also formed an important part of the interaction.
Minister Sunil Kumar briefed the officers on the department’s efforts to make technical education in Bihar more employment-oriented and globally relevant.
Emphasis on Skill-Based, Technology-Driven Education
The minister highlighted that the state is prioritising demand-driven and market-oriented courses, with a strong emphasis on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies into the regular academic curriculum. These measures aim to enhance the global competitiveness of students from Bihar and prepare them for international employment opportunities.
The probationary officers actively participated in discussions and shared their perspectives on various initiatives undertaken by the department.
Language Labs and International Skill Development
Secretary Pratima provided a detailed overview of the department’s roles, responsibilities, and best practices. She also informed the officers about the establishment of language laboratories across the state, where students are being trained in foreign languages such as French, German, and Japanese.
These initiatives are designed to help students access opportunities in multinational companies, international institutions, and global academic collaborations, thereby strengthening Bihar’s human capital on the international stage.
