DEHRADUN: Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday urged young IAS officers to make public service, integrity and inclusive governance the guiding principles of their careers, stressing that development initiatives must reach the most disadvantaged sections of society.
Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the Phase II training of the 2024 batch of IAS officer trainees at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Radhakrishnan also highlighted the growing participation of women in the civil services.
Women Constitute Nearly 41% of 2024 IAS Batch
Radhakrishnan said women account for nearly 41 per cent of the 2024 IAS batch, describing their increasing representation in the civil services as an impressive testimony to Nari Shakti.
He said talent rises above stereotypes and determination enables individuals to overcome barriers.
The Vice-President encouraged the young officers to use their positions to serve citizens effectively and ensure that the benefits of development reach every section of society.
‘Sevabhav’ and ‘Kartavyabodh’ as Guiding Principles
Calling upon the trainees to embrace the values of ‘sevabhav’ and ‘kartavyabodh’, Radhakrishnan said a career in the civil services must be guided by a genuine commitment to serving society.
He emphasised that administrative authority comes with responsibility and that officers must use their positions to improve the lives of citizens.
The Vice-President also stressed that true leadership is not measured by power or position, but by an individual’s ability to make ethical decisions, particularly in difficult and challenging circumstances.
Radhakrishnan Calls for Inclusive Development
The Vice-President emphasised that development can be meaningful only when it is inclusive and reaches citizens at the farthest end of society.
He urged the trainee officers to ensure that government initiatives benefit the most disadvantaged citizens and contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
He asked the officers to make:
- A spirit of service
- A strong sense of duty
- Integrity
- Inclusive governance
the guiding principles throughout their administrative careers.
Teamwork Essential for Effective Administration
Radhakrishnan stressed the importance of teamwork in public administration and asked the young officers to build strong and coordinated teams.
He encouraged them to inspire their colleagues and carry forward effective administrative practices established by their predecessors.
According to the Vice-President, true administrative success does not depend only on individual brilliance but also on the ability to bring people together and deliver results as a team.
IAS Officers Urged to Embrace Emerging Technologies
The Vice-President also called upon the trainee officers to make effective use of emerging technologies to improve public service delivery.
He highlighted technologies such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Machine Learning (ML)
- Blockchain
These technologies, he said, can help improve the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of public services.
Continuous Learning and Adaptability Crucial for Civil Servants
Radhakrishnan emphasised the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the civil services.
He said administrative challenges are changing rapidly due to technological developments and other emerging circumstances. Civil servants must therefore continue to learn, adapt and prepare themselves to respond effectively to new challenges.
Integrity and Character Are Cornerstones of Public Service
The Vice-President described character and integrity as the cornerstones of public service.
He said leadership should not be measured merely by authority or position, but by the courage to act ethically, particularly when circumstances are difficult.
He urged the officers to uphold ethical principles throughout their careers and take decisions in the larger public interest.
Radhakrishnan Urges Officers to Serve Remote Regions
Concluding his address, Radhakrishnan encouraged the IAS trainees to make their careers meaningful by improving the lives of people living in the country’s remotest regions.
He urged them to work towards building an administration where every grievance is heard and every citizen is empowered.
The Vice-President’s message focused on citizen-centric governance, ethical leadership, technological innovation and inclusive development.
Uttarakhand Governor and Other Dignitaries Attend Ceremony
Several dignitaries attended the valedictory ceremony, including:
- Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), Governor of Uttarakhand
- Ganesh Joshi, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Sainik Welfare Minister
- B Rajendra, Director, LBSNAA
The ceremony marked the completion of Phase II training for the 2024 batch of IAS officer trainees at the academy in Mussoorie.
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