President Murmu Urges Officer Trainees to Lead with Integrity

Addressing officer trainees of the Indian Audit & Accounts Service, the President underscored their constitutional mandate in ensuring transparency and accountability in public finance.

President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu today called upon officer trainees of the Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS), Indian Trade Service (ITS), and Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQAS) to lead with integrity, innovation and a deep commitment to national development. The trainees met the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of their professional orientation.

In a wide-ranging address, the President described their selection into the prestigious civil services as both an honour and a profound responsibility at a time when India is undergoing rapid economic, technological and institutional transformation.

She reminded the young officers that millions of aspirants compete annually for entry into the civil services, and only a small fraction succeed. “You are among the few who have earned this opportunity. You must become role models and inspire countless others who aspire to serve the nation,” she said.

Nation-Building Through Ethical Leadership

Highlighting India’s expanding global footprint — from being the world’s fifth-largest economy to emerging as a leading voice in multilateral forums — the President stressed that the country’s continued rise depends on accountable governance, financial discipline, trade dynamism and defence preparedness.

“When officers like you work with commitment for the development of India and the well-being of every citizen, our nation grows stronger, more capable, and more respected globally,” she said. She added that the energy and passion of young civil servants can shape the India of tomorrow, particularly as the country accelerates toward its long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

IA&AS: Guardians of Public Trust and Fiscal Prudence

Addressing officer trainees of the Indian Audit & Accounts Service, the President underscored their constitutional mandate in ensuring transparency and accountability in public finance. IA&AS officers support the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in auditing Union and State government accounts, public sector enterprises and autonomous bodies — overseeing expenditure that runs into trillions of rupees annually.

Describing them as “custodians of public trust and guardians of financial prudence,” she emphasized that the effectiveness of governance frameworks increases when there is constructive synergy between the Executive and Audit institutions.

“An effective partnership between Audit and the Executive enhances the efficacy of public spending and improves outcomes for citizens,” she said, urging officers to uphold constitutional values and maintain independence, objectivity and integrity in their work.

With public spending expanding in infrastructure, digital governance, social welfare and defence modernization, she noted that outcome-based auditing and data-driven financial oversight will play a critical role in ensuring value for money and reducing systemic inefficiencies.

Indian Trade Service: Steering India’s Global Economic Footprint

Turning to the Indian Trade Service officers, the President highlighted India’s growing role in global trade and supply chains. With India’s merchandise and services exports crossing record levels in recent years and the country negotiating multiple bilateral and regional trade agreements, the role of trade professionals has become increasingly strategic.

“You will contribute to attracting investment, creating jobs, and fostering an ecosystem where Indian businesses can innovate, expand and compete globally,” she said.

She stressed that in an era of shifting supply chains, digital trade frameworks and sustainability-linked commerce, ITS officers must ensure that every trade policy and agreement aligns firmly with India’s national interest.

“Each policy you implement, each trade barrier you address, each agreement you support contributes to India’s emergence as a stronger and globally respected trading partner,” she said, encouraging them to balance competitiveness with inclusivity and domestic capacity-building.

DAQAS: Powering Defence Modernisation Through Quality Assurance

Addressing trainees of the Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service, the President emphasized their critical role in strengthening India’s defence capabilities amid rapid technological advancement and expanding indigenous manufacturing.

DAQAS officers are responsible for ensuring stringent quality standards in arms, ammunition, aerospace systems and advanced defence platforms supplied to the Armed Forces. As India intensifies its push for self-reliance in defence production and enhances multi-domain operational readiness, quality assurance has become central to operational effectiveness.

“It is your prime responsibility to ensure the highest quality standards for technologically advanced, world-class arms and ammunition for our Defence forces,” the President said.

She noted that their role sits at the intersection of science, engineering, technology and national security. Encouraging innovation in testing protocols, digital quality monitoring and systems integration, she urged them to contribute to transforming the Armed Forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of integrated operations across land, air, sea, cyber and space domains.

A Call to Lead by Example

Concluding her address, the President reiterated that public service is not merely a career but a lifelong commitment to constitutional values and public welfare.

“The responsibility to lead by example will remain with you throughout your journey,” she told the trainees.

As India charts its path toward becoming a developed nation, she said, the integrity, competence and innovative spirit of its civil servants will remain central to achieving inclusive growth, fiscal discipline, trade competitiveness and national security.