The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the Valedictory Function of 91st Foundation Course for Civil Services at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie today (December 9, 2016).

Speaking on the occasion, the President complemented new entrants for choosing to join the Civil Services and congratulated them on their success in the tough competitive examination. He said they will be makers of a new India in the next 30-35 years.

The President said Civil Services officers have a tremendous responsibility to unite India, a nation of more than 1.28 billion people, with over 7 religions, 100 languages, 3 major ethnic groups yet under one Constitution and one flag. They should help raise India to its rightful place in the comity of nations.

The President said the young Civil Servants will soon administer the largest functional democracy in the world. There is need for young men and women, full of commitment to the people of the country.

The President said more than two third of electors participated in the 16th Lok Sabha elections. They showed exemplary maturity despite backwardness, illiteracy and huge diversity. After 30 years, the people gave a clear decisive verdict in favour of a particular political party. It is not important which political party received the confidence of the people. What is important is how mature the Indian electorate is. The people discharged their part of the responsibility. Those who are chosen by the people have the responsibility to transform the people’s aspirations into reality. And, that is the area where the role of Civil Servants is most important.

The President said Civil Servants have responsibility as administrators and future policy makers to strengthen the system. Under no circumstances our pluralism should replaced by uniformity. Straitjacket uniformity, even if imposed will not succeed as has been proved during several occasions in the past. They should protect India’s diversity which celebrates and nourishes on languages, customs and religions. At the same time, they must have a common objective of advancement. They should be committed not to any dogma or ideology by to service of the people.

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