President Urges Young IAS Officers to Uphold Ethics, Integrity and Inclusive Governance

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu today addressed a group of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the 2024 batch who are currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments. The officers called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 20, 2026, during their training and administrative attachment programme with the Government of India.

During her interaction, the President highlighted the critical role played by the All India Services, particularly the IAS, in nation-building and urged the young officers to uphold ethics, integrity, transparency and public service as the foundation of their administrative careers.

IAS Officers Have Played a Major Role in Nation Building

Addressing the officers, President Murmu said that the Indian Administrative Service has historically contributed significantly to India’s development journey and continues to remain one of the key pillars of governance and public administration.

She noted that as India moves towards becoming a developed nation, the responsibilities and expectations from civil servants have increased considerably.

“The All India Services, especially the IAS, have played a major role in the development of our country. Now that the country has entered into a higher orbit of development, the expectations from the officers are also higher,” the President said.

She emphasized that young administrators will be required to work in diverse sectors and rapidly changing environments throughout their careers.

Officers Must Adapt Quickly to New Challenges

The President observed that IAS officers often lead multidisciplinary teams consisting of experts from specialised fields. Therefore, she said, officers must continuously upgrade their knowledge, broaden their understanding and develop the ability to adapt quickly to different situations.

She underlined that the pace of governance and policy implementation today requires officers to learn rapidly and remain flexible in dealing with emerging challenges.

“The young officers will have the unique opportunity to work in diverse fields. On several occasions, they will be heading teams of experts in certain specialized areas. Therefore, the scope and pace of their learning must be very wide and rapid,” she stated.

She further stressed that adaptability and responsiveness are essential qualities for effective administration in a dynamic democracy like India.

Neutrality, Transparency and Integrity Are Essential

President Murmu highlighted the importance of fairness, neutrality and transparency in public service.

She said the neutrality of officers would reflect their fairness, while their sensitivity towards citizens would demonstrate their commitment to inclusive governance.

According to the President, credibility in public administration is built through consistent performance, transparency and ethical conduct.

“Their integrity, defined by their personal and professional conduct, will give them the moral courage to act decisively in the public interest,” she said.

The President advised officers to strike a balance between compassion and rational decision-making while handling public issues.

“They have to blend compassion with rationality. They have to be sensitive without being sentimental. They have to follow the rules but not lose sight of the larger objectives,” she added.

Ethics and Governance Go Hand in Hand

The President described ethics and governance as inseparable elements of effective administration.

She said that while honesty and ethical conduct are fundamental, officers must also ensure timely and efficient delivery of results to citizens.

“Ethics and governance are the two sides of the same coin,” the President remarked.

She further emphasized that indecisiveness should not be mistaken for morality.

“Refraining from making a decision does not constitute morality. Rather, making the right decisions in alignment with the public interest and established order represents the true essence of morality,” she stated.

President Murmu also warned against delays in administrative decision-making, saying that delayed governance can deprive citizens of their legitimate rights and interests.

“Just as a delay in the delivery of justice is deemed a denial of justice, so too is a delay in administrative decision-making tantamount to depriving people of their legitimate interests,” she said.

Officers Must Respect Democratic Aspirations

The President reminded the young officers that democracy is ultimately aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

She said these aspirations are expressed through elected representatives, and it is therefore the responsibility of civil servants to address issues raised by public representatives in the interest of citizens.

“The objective of a democracy is to realize the aspirations of its people. These aspirations are articulated through their elected representatives,” she noted.

She stressed that officers must remain committed to public welfare and responsive governance throughout their careers.

Call to Work Towards ‘Viksit Bharat’

President Murmu encouraged the officers to actively contribute towards the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or Developed India.

She said that achieving transformative national progress often requires administrators to take difficult but necessary decisions and work against conventional approaches when required.

“No effort is required to simply drift along with the flowing current. To achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and to elevate our society to the pinnacle of progress, officers will often have to move forward by striving against the tide,” she said.

The President urged the officers to always keep the people of India, particularly marginalized and weaker sections of society, at the centre of their decisions and actions.

She expressed confidence that the young IAS officers would make valuable contributions towards building an inclusive, progressive and developed India.

Role of Assistant Secretaries in Governance Exposure

The Assistant Secretary programme provides young IAS officers with exposure to policymaking and governance at the Union Government level after completing their training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

During this period, officers are attached to various Ministries and Departments where they gain firsthand experience in policy implementation, public administration and central government functioning before taking up field assignments in their respective state cadres.

The interaction with the President forms an important part of their orientation towards public service, constitutional values and ethical governance.