President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged Indian Information Service (IIS) officers to use social media not only to inform and engage citizens but also to listen to their concerns, understand their aspirations and respond to their feedback.
A group of Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service and Indian Statistical Service called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
Addressing the officer trainees, President Murmu said both services, despite having different functions, share the common objective of strengthening governance and serving the people. She described effective communication and credible information as essential pillars of a vibrant and responsive democracy.
IIS officers have responsibility to counter misinformation
Addressing the IIS officer trainees, the President said they would have an important role in ensuring that government policies, programmes and initiatives are communicated to citizens clearly, accurately and in a timely manner.
At the same time, she emphasised that their responsibility extends beyond communicating government information.
“They have an equally important responsibility to listen,” she said, urging the officers to understand public concerns, aspirations and feedback and ensure that public communication remains responsive and citizen-centric.
President Murmu said the rapidly changing information environment required officers to distinguish facts from misinformation and respond responsibly during crises. She stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens have easy and timely access to authentic information, particularly when misinformation spreads rapidly.
The President said the Indian Information Service has played an important role in strengthening the government’s connect with citizens and has continuously adapted to changes in the media landscape by using emerging technologies and digital platforms.
She urged the officers to use social media platforms “not only to inform and engage, but also to listen, understand and respond to concerns of the people”.
With information travelling instantly, accuracy, credibility and public interest should guide official communication, she said. She also advised the officers to use the latest technological tools responsibly, ensuring that innovation is accompanied by ethical values, sound human judgment and accountability.
President Murmu said the role of IIS officers would become increasingly important as India moves towards 2047, as well-informed citizens are better positioned to participate actively in development and democratic processes.
She also urged the officers to communicate with empathy and sensitivity while keeping India’s diversity in mind.
‘Reliable statistics foundation of sound governance’
Addressing the Indian Statistical Service officer trainees, the President said reliable statistics are the foundation of sound governance and stressed the importance of accurate, timely and credible data for policymaking.
She said the Indian Statistical Service plays a crucial role in generating, analysing and interpreting official statistics that form the basis of decisions affecting millions of citizens.
India’s statistical system is undergoing significant transformation through digital technologies and innovative approaches to data collection and analysis, President Murmu said.
She noted that the increasing use of machine learning and other emerging technologies is creating new possibilities for producing more timely and detailed information. However, these developments also place greater responsibility on statistical officers to maintain statistical integrity, objectivity, confidentiality and professional excellence.
The President said the work of Indian Statistical Service officers would support evidence-based policymaking across diverse sectors of the economy and society.
“Behind every dataset, there are the real people and their lives,” she said, urging the officers to make statistics more accessible to citizens, researchers and policymakers.
She said their contribution to building a modern, trusted and technology-enabled statistical ecosystem would be an important part of India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
President stresses integrity and continuous learning
President Murmu told the young officers that civil service is not merely a profession but a commitment to the nation and its people.
She urged them to continue learning and adapting as technology, media, economics and public policy evolve rapidly. The officers were advised to remain curious, develop new competencies and learn from experience.
The President also called upon them to be judicious in their decisions, compassionate in their conduct and unwavering in upholding integrity.
“The authority entrusted to them carries with it a profound responsibility to serve the people with fairness, humility and dedication,” she said.
President Murmu noted that while knowledge and professional skills would be valuable to the officers, their character, commitment and sensitivity towards citizens would ultimately define their contribution to public service.
She extended her best wishes to the officer trainees for a long and distinguished career in the service of the nation.
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