President Murmu to IAS Officers: Blend Compassion with Rationality, Deliver Results with Integrity
Calls for ethical governance, timely decision-making and commitment to inclusive development
President Droupadi Murmu addresses a group of IAS officers from the 2024 batch, currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday called upon young IAS officers to combine compassion with rationality, uphold integrity in public service and deliver governance with sensitivity, transparency and decisiveness.
A group of IAS officers from the 2024 batch, currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments, called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Addressing the officers, President Murmu said the All India Services, especially the Indian Administrative Service, have played a vital role in the development of the country. She noted that as India moves into a higher orbit of development, expectations from civil servants have also increased significantly.
The President said young officers would get opportunities to work across diverse sectors and often lead teams of experts in specialised fields. She stressed the need for continuous learning, adaptability and the ability to respond effectively to changing situations.
“The neutrality of officers will be an indicator of their fairness. Their sensitivity will be the measure of their commitment to inclusivity. Their credibility will be built on their transparency and sustained performance,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of ethics in governance, President Murmu said integrity in both personal and professional conduct gives officers the moral courage required to act decisively in public interest.
She advised the officers to maintain a balance between empathy and objectivity.
“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 said.
The President underlined that ethics and governance are inseparable and said public administrators must not only remain honest and ethical but also ensure delivery of results.
She also cautioned against indecision in administration, observing that delaying decisions harms public interest just as delay in justice amounts to denial of justice.
“Refraining from making a decision does not constitute morality. Making the right decisions in alignment with the public interest and established order represents the true essence of morality,” she said.
Emphasising the democratic responsibility of civil servants, President Murmu said officers should give due priority to issues raised by elected representatives, as they reflect the aspirations of the people.
Calling upon the officers to work towards the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, she said progress often requires courage to move against the tide rather than simply following the current.
She urged the officers to keep the welfare of citizens — particularly marginalised sections of society — at the centre of their decisions, both in field assignments and office administration.
The President expressed confidence that the young officers would make valuable contributions towards building a developed, inclusive and equitable India.
