20-08-2026:Address to IAS Officer Trainees at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration By the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand
(Date: August 20, 2026)
Jai Hind!
Hon’ble Vice President, Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, respected faculty members, distinguished guests, and my young officer trainees,
My warm greetings to you all.
It is a matter of great pride for me to be here among you today at this historic Academy. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the officer trainees of the 2024 batch on successfully completing your professional training. I wish you a bright, meaningful, and fulfilling career dedicated to the service of the nation.
Hon’ble Vice President, your gracious presence has made this occasion even more special for all of us. I extend my heartfelt welcome and greetings to you.
My young colleagues,
Today, one chapter of your lives is coming to an end, but your most important journey is only beginning.
This Academy has given you knowledge, skills, and perspectives in administration. Your real test now will be how sensitively, sincerely, and courageously you transform this knowledge into public service. I am confident that you will rise to this challenge and transform your knowledge into the power of service, your authority into public trust, and your responsibilities into a commitment to the nation.
The service you are entering is not merely a prestigious career. It is a responsibility towards the Constitution, democracy, and the trust of millions of citizens. Behind every file on your desk may lie the hopes of a citizen. One decision may affect the future of a family, while one sensitive initiative may inspire new hope in a remote region.
Therefore, always remember: the true power of your position does not lie in the authority you exercise, but in the trust that the nation places in you.
The real test of administration comes when circumstances are not favourable—when information is limited, time is short, and the consequences of a decision are far-reaching. At such times, rules will guide you and experience will assist you, but ultimately it will be your judgement, impartiality, and foresight that will lead you towards the right decision.
I would like to share with you an experience from my military life. Whether one wears a uniform or carries the responsibilities of the civil service, the essence of national service remains the same. In difficult circumstances, one cannot hide behind one’s position; one must step forward and take responsibility.
At times, the right decision may neither be easy nor popular, but it may still be necessary in the national interest. In such moments, courage does not lie merely in taking a decision; it lies in standing firmly by the right decision.
My young colleagues,
India is passing through an important phase of transformation. To realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat, we must understand not only policies but also ground realities and the aspirations of our citizens.
See India not merely through statistics, but through its villages, towns, cities, and the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. Files will give you facts, but the field will acquaint you with reality. Go among the people, listen to them, and understand their difficulties. The first duty of administration is to listen to the people and preserve their trust.
In a democracy, elected representatives and the permanent civil service are both important pillars of national service, each within their respective roles. Your responsibility is to provide impartial, fact-based, and fearless advice and to implement decisions with complete sincerity and efficiency.
The roles may be different, but the objective is the same—public welfare and national interest. Understanding constitutional responsibilities, maintaining institutional propriety, and building mutual trust are the foundations of good governance.
Therefore, during your service, do not merely focus on completing schemes; strengthen institutions. Wherever you work, leave behind better systems, stronger teams, transparent processes, and a work culture that continues to serve citizens even after you have moved on.
Your greatest legacy will not be the position you held, but the institutions you strengthened and the positive change you brought into people’s lives.
Today, AI, data science, and emerging technologies are giving new strength to administrative efficiency and decision-making. Learn them, adopt them, and keep yourself continuously updated. But never allow technology to become a reason for creating distance between the administration and the citizen.
Technology can empower governance; sensitivity is what makes it humane.
My young colleagues,
Your careers will be filled with opportunities as well as challenges. In every circumstance, keep one principle alive within you: in every decision you take, the nation must remain supreme.
This is the spirit that will elevate you beyond your position and make you true servants of the nation.
Always remember—the tenure of a position is limited, but the imprint of one’s actions can be lasting. Your true identity will be defined by how many lives were transformed during your tenure, how many institutions were strengthened, and how much people’s trust grew.
My heartfelt wish is that, as you leave this Academy, you become not merely capable administrators, but true public servants whose conduct reflects transparency, whose behaviour reflects compassion, whose decisions reflect firmness, and whose hearts always carry the spirit of Nation First.
I extend my heartfelt best wishes to each one of you for a distinguished, meaningful, and nation-dedicated career in public service.
Hon’ble Vice President, I express my sincere gratitude to you for your gracious presence and inspiring guidance on this occasion. I am confident that your guidance will remain a source of inspiration for our young officer trainees throughout their careers.
Jai Hind!