Dr. Pemmasani Urges Civil Service Trainees to Lead With Integrity at NCA-F Event

Shri Taranikanti emphasised the shared mission of all civil services and encouraged trainees to break administrative silos, foster synergy, and use local ingenuity and janbhagidari for impactful governance.

Union Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani served as the Chief Guest at the Valedictory Function of the Special Foundation Course (SFC) 2025, held on 6 December 2025 at the National Communications Academy – Finance (NCA-F), a premier 5-Star (“Sarvotkrisht”) Central Training Institute under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.

“Competence Creates Credibility”: Dr. Pemmasani’s Guidance to Future Civil Servants

In his valedictory address, Dr. Pemmasani urged the 176 Officer Trainees (OTs) to become subject-matter experts in their respective domains, stressing that a civil servant’s credibility rests on competence, integrity, and disciplined conduct.

He reminded the young officers that remaining rooted in dharma empowers them to reject corruption and unethical practices. Highlighting the dangers of arrogance, he said:

“Ego is your enemy. Always reflect on how your actions impact others.”

Encouraging teamwork, he advised OTs not to compete against those who excel but to collaborate and learn, noting that public institutions thrive on strong systems, not individual heroism. He concluded by stating that serving 1.4 billion Indians is the greatest honour of public service.

A Rigorous, Immersive Training Experience

The SFC 2025, organised from 15 September to 5 December 2025 in collaboration with LBSNAA, Mussoorie, brought together trainees from 15 All India and Central Civil Services, selected through the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024.

The course aimed to:

• Familiarise officers with India’s administrative, socio-economic and political landscape

• Strengthen inter-service bonding and esprit de corps

• Instil discipline, ethics, professionalism and seva-bhaav

• Build leadership capacity and cross-sectoral understanding

The curriculum blended academic instruction with experiential learning, including:

• Sessions by senior bureaucrats, scholars, civil society leaders, industry experts

• Interactive engagements with Padma Awardees, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award winners, distinguished economists, and even an astronaut

• Cultural and sports activities like Bharat Diwas, Khel Samagam, One-Act Play Competition, and inclusive celebrations such as Purple Fest

• Modules on governance, digital transformation, rural–urban immersion, Himalayan study tours, disaster management, financial administration and emerging technologies

These experiences fostered camaraderie, empathy, national pride and cross-service unity.

Guidance From Senior Leadership

The valedictory ceremony was attended by several distinguished dignitaries:

• Shri Sriram Taranikanti, Director, LBSNAA

• Ms. Vandana Gupta, Controller General of Communication Accounts

• Ms. Madhavi Das, Director General, NCA-F

• Dr. Kamal Kapoor, Course Director

• Shri Shailesh Bansal, Course Coordinator

• Faculty members and representatives from various Central Training Institutes

Shri Taranikanti emphasised the shared mission of all civil services and encouraged trainees to break administrative silos, foster synergy, and use local ingenuity and janbhagidari for impactful governance.

Ms. Madhavi Das highlighted lifelong learning, humility, and public trust, reminding officers that authority is a responsibility, not an entitlement.

Dr. Kapoor presented a comprehensive Course Overview, outlining academic modules, immersion programs and co-curricular activities undertaken during the SFC.

Celebrating Excellence

Awards were presented to outstanding participants and teams, including:

• Best Overall House

• Best House – Himalayan Study Tour

• Best House – Rural–Urban Immersion

• Best Overall Officer Trainee

• Best in Academics

• Best in Sports

The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Preeti Mahto, DDG, followed by the National Anthem, marking the successful culmination of an intensive and inspiring training program that prepares the next generation of India's civil servants for responsible and ethical governance.