VP Radhakrishnan Urges Young IAS Officers to Lead with Integrity, Teamwork and Citizen-Centric Governance
Mussoorie, August 20, 2026: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday called upon young IAS officers to make public service more meaningful by combining integrity, teamwork, technology and a strong commitment to citizens. He was addressing the valedictory programme of Phase-II training of the 2024-batch IAS Officer Trainees at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. (t.co)
Congratulating the officer trainees on completing their training, the Vice-President described the civil services as a crucial bridge between government policies and their implementation at the grassroots. He stressed that as India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, administrators must ensure that development reaches the last mile and remains inclusive.
‘Sevabhav and Kartavyabodh’ Should Guide Public Service
A central message of the Vice-President’s address was the importance of service and responsibility. He urged the young officers to make “Sevabhav and Kartavyabodh” their guiding principles while discharging their duties.
He also highlighted the importance of working together, asking officers to focus on team excellence rather than individual achievement. According to him, effective administrators should build cohesive teams, motivate colleagues and preserve successful practices developed by their predecessors. (t.co)
Integrity at the Heart of Leadership
The Vice-President placed particular emphasis on character and integrity, describing them as fundamental to public service. He stressed that leadership should not be judged simply by authority or position, but by the ability to make ethical decisions, especially when faced with difficult circumstances.
His message comes at a time when public administration is undergoing significant changes, with technology and data increasingly influencing governance and service delivery.
Technology to Make Governance More Effective
Radhakrishnan encouraged the new generation of civil servants to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning and Blockchain.
He said technological awareness, combined with continuous learning and adaptability, would be essential for creating a future-ready civil service. Such tools can help administrators improve efficiency, transparency and the delivery of citizen services. (DD News)
The Vice-President also underlined the need for officers to remain open to learning throughout their careers, particularly as technology and public expectations continue to evolve.
Women’s Growing Presence in Civil Services
Highlighting the changing composition of the civil services, the Vice-President noted that around 41 per cent of the 2024 IAS batch are women. He described the growing participation of women as a reflection of Nari Shakti, with talent and determination increasingly overcoming traditional barriers. (t.co)
A Call to Reach the Last Mile
Concluding his address, Radhakrishnan urged the officer trainees to view public administration through the lens of people’s needs. He called upon them to make a tangible difference in the lives of citizens, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas.
He emphasised that meaningful governance requires ensuring that grievances are heard, citizens are empowered and the benefits of development reach those who need them most.
The programme was attended by Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmit Singh, Uttarakhand Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Soldier Welfare Ganesh Joshi, and LBSNAA Director B. Rajender. Earlier, the Vice-President paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Academy. (t.co)
The address offered a clear message to the country’s emerging administrative leadership: effective governance is not only about implementing policies, but about combining competence with compassion, technology with responsibility, and authority with integrity.
