The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today congratulated all serving and retired ITS officers for six decades of distinguished service, noting their vital role in advancing India’s communications and digital growth. He was addressing at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. In his address, the Vice-President stated “We are not merely marking sixty years of service, but celebrating India’s journey from the telegraph to the digital age,”.

Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, attended the event as Guest of Honour.

Describing telecommunications as the “Backbone of Digital India”, Shri Radhakrishnan commended the Service for connecting every part of the nation and ensuring continuity during national emergencies. “The ITS has always been about people and their commitment to keep India connected as one family,” he observed.

The Vice President urged officers to uphold the core values of ethics, equity, and excellence as India advances toward the era of 5G, 6G, satellite internet, and quantum communication. "Technology must serve humanity, ensuring that no Indian is left behind," he emphasized.

He continued, stating, "The Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) has always represented more than just networks and numbers; it is fundamentally about people. It is about your unwavering commitment—often uncelebrated—to keep India connected, not just as a nation, but as one unified family."

Referring to them as "the custodians of our connected future," the Vice President added, "Telecommunications is no longer just a sector—it is the backbone of Digital India, supporting the pillars of governance, education, finance, and innovation." He further highlighted, "Whether it's policy formulation, spectrum management, or ensuring robust and secure networks, ITS officers have always been the State’s most trusted architects of transformation. India’s telecommunications growth is a testament to expert engineering, institutional strength, and a deep sense of public duty."

In conclusion, Shri Radhakrishnan expressed his gratitude to the ITS community, saying, "You are the quiet engineers of inclusion and transformation. Let the future be about building bridges of knowledge and equality."

In his address, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia highlighted the transformative journey of India’s telecom sector, emphasising that the nation’s progress is deeply intertwined with the evolution of the Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS) cadre. From the era of telegraph wires and manual exchanges to cutting-edge 5G networks, AI-driven systems, and the horizon of 6G technology, the ITS has been the backbone of India’s digital growth. “The ITS cadre provides continuity, capability, and confidence in every chapter of India’s digital progress,” he remarked, underscoring their pivotal role in steering India toward becoming a global hub for telecom innovation. The Minister also drew attention to the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting how India’s infrastructure revolution—spanning highways, airports, and waterways—has been complemented by a silent yet profound digital revolution, orchestrated by the ITS officers who have built the nation’s digital highway network.

Looking ahead, Shri Scindia stressed the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, humility, bold reforms, and mentorship for officers at all levels. He concluded that with innovation, audacious goals, and unwavering dedication, the ITS cadre would remain a mirror of India’s growth and a portrait of the nation’s ambition on the global stage. “We must live with the mantra: one team, one vision, one goal and one result. And along with that capacity to innovate”, the Union Minster added.

Minister of State for Communications Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, in his speech, highlighted the indispensable contribution of ITS officers in building the secure, affordable digital infrastructure that drives the nation's rapidly growing digital economy. He stressed the vital shift of India from being a consumer of technology to a 'Telecom Product Nation', a change significantly propelled by ITS officers through innovation support, start-up enablement, and the indigenous creation of world-class, 'Atmanirbhar' solutions such as Sanchar Saathi.

Dr. Pemmasani asserted that while other services had built the physical highways of the nation, the ITS had built the digital highways that were defining the 21st-century economy. He declared that it was not just bridging the digital divide but also closing the opportunity divide, and he congratulated the service on its six decades of stellar performance.

Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, commended the Service’s technical and managerial excellence, affirming that ITS officers have been the "driving force behind India’s telecom transformation—true torchbearers of Reform, Perform, and Transform."  The Secretary (T) highlighted the ITS's remarkable resilience and adaptability through six decades of relentless technological evolution, noting their contributions extend beyond implementation to shaping policy, standards, and innovation ecosystems. Dr. Mittal reaffirmed the service’s vital role in ushering India into the era of 5G, AI, and 6G. Emphasising their foundational strength and readiness for the future, Dr. Mittal stated, “At 60 years, the ITS is like a good telecom backbone - robust, resilient, redundant in the right places, and ready for another 100 Gbps of challenges.”

Dr. Mittal highlighted the indigenous 4G stack being implemented by BSNL as a shining example of self-reliance—a first for India—that marks a significant milestone in the nation's pursuit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

As a cornerstone of the day-long ITS Diamond Jubilee celebrations, three focused sessions were organised to deliberate on India's technological trajectory and the service's evolving role. The first session, titled 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047 - From Access to Empowerment,' centred on the strategic pivot from merely providing telecom access to harnessing it for genuine socio-economic empowerment. Discussions primarily revolved around leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), ensuring universal digital inclusion, and transforming government services to be citizen-centric. Experts emphasised that technology must be the catalyst for achieving the national aspiration of a developed India (Viksit Bharat), moving beyond basic connectivity to delivering tangible benefits, such as financial inclusion and improved public service delivery, to the last mile.

This was followed by the session 'Role of ITS Officers in Technology Led Governance,' which paid tribute to the crucial, yet often unseen, contributions of the Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS) cadre. The dialogue illuminated the officers’ vital function as the technical backbone and strategic executors of major national digital initiatives. Speakers highlighted their responsibility in navigating the complexities of advanced technology rollouts, such as the nationwide 5G deployment and fibre infrastructure projects, alongside their critical role in policy design, cyber security assurance, and embedding technology across governmental functions to enhance efficiency and transparency for the public. The session highlights how the cadre can further drive citizen-centric initiatives, efficient service delivery, digital inclusion, policy formulation, and technological self-reliance, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The session underscored that with their unique blend of technical expertise and policy insight, ITS officers remain central to India’s mission of building a secure, efficient, and globally competitive digital ecosystem.

The final, forward-looking session was dedicated to 'Making Bharat - A Telecom Product Nation.' This segment addressed India's ambitious drive to establish itself as a global manufacturing and innovation hub for telecom products, shifting its status from a technology consumer to a technology leader. The focus was keenly on the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative, with panellists detailing the success of schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) in scaling up domestic manufacturing. The consensus was on nurturing the ecosystem for indigenous design and development to position India strongly in next-generation technologies like 6G, thereby securing a prominent place in the global telecom supply chain.

ITS officers working in DoT, its field units, subordinate organisations and various other departments were present during the celebration. A large number of retired ITS officers also attended the event. The event also saw the attendance of a number of officers from different other Services of the Government of India.

Background Note on ITS

Starting with a pre-independence legacy of being a distinct cadre, the Service was formally constituted as Telegraph Engineering Service Group ‘A’ in 1965 and renamed as Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) in 1978. ITS is an organised Group ‘A’ Central Civil Service under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications. The ITS officers play a pivotal role in shaping India’s telecom landscape and digital governance framework. At the national level, they contribute to policy formulation, telecom regulation, standardisation, licensing, service quality monitoring, and regulatory compliance. ITS officers also represent India at the international level in organisations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other global fora.

Within the Government and affiliated organisations, ITS officers have made significant contributions across multiple domains of governance and technology. Beyond their roles in Central and State Governments, ITS officers have contributed to organisations and projects such as the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), UIDAI, C-DOT, TRAI, TDSAT, Election Commission, ISRO, MCA-21, as well as public sector undertakings including BSNL, MTNL, ITI, and TCIL.

Over the past six decades, they have contributed significantly to the nation’s progress—from the expansion of telecommunication networks and the management of spectrum to the realisation of the Digital India vision. The Service continues to ensure secure, reliable and inclusive connectivity across the country  and pioneering the journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047.

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MI/ARJ