A group of Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service and the Indian Statistical Service called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (August 19, 2026).

Addressing the officer trainees, the President said that both the Indian Information Service and the Indian Statistical Service, though different in functions, share a common purpose, which is to strengthen the quality of governance and serve the people of the country. Effective communication and credible information are essential pillars of a vibrant and responsive democracy.

The President said that as the officer trainees embark upon their careers, they should continue to learn and adapt. The world of technology, media, economics and public policy is changing rapidly. She advised them to remain curious, develop new competencies and learn from experience. She advised them to be judicious in their decisions, compassionate in their conduct and unwavering in upholding integrity. She underlined that the authority entrusted to them carries with it a profound responsibility to serve the people with fairness, humility and dedication.

The President said that the Indian Information Service has played a significant role in strengthening the Government’s connect with citizens. She highlighted that social media has fundamentally transformed the way citizens receive, share and respond to information. She advised Indian Information Service officers to use social media platforms not only to inform and engage, but also to listen, understand and respond to concerns of the people. She said that in an environment where information travels very fast, accuracy, credibility and public interest should always guide their communication.

The President said that as India moves towards 2047, the role of Indian Information Service officers will become even more significant because a well-informed citizen is able to participate actively in development and democratic processes.

The President said that in today's data-driven world, the quality of public policy depends greatly on the availability of accurate, timely and credible data. The Indian Statistical Service plays an important role in generating, analysing and interpreting official statistics that form the basis of the decisions affecting the lives of millions of our citizens. She stated that the work of Indian Statistical Service officers will support evidence-based policy-making across diverse sectors of the economy and society. She advised them to always remember that behind every dataset, there are real people and their lives. She urged them to make statistics more accessible to citizens, researchers and policy-makers. She said that their contribution to building a modern, trusted and technology-enabled statistical ecosystem will be an important part of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat.

 Please click here to see the President’s Speech

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MJPS/SS/PRK