ADDRESS BY THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT. DROUPADI MURMU ON THE OCCASION OF CALL ON BY THE OFFICERS OF INDIAN AUDIT & ACCOUNTS SERVICE, INDIAN REVENUE SERVICE (CUSTOMS & INDIRECT TAXES) AND INDIAN STATISTICAL SERVICE (ISS)

At the outset, I congratulate each one of you for your success in the rigorous examinations and making it to the prestigious services. I commend you all for opting to join the public service which will give you an opportunity to serve the country while holding important positions in the governance system. You can contribute immensely in India’s development journey through innovative, smart and citizen- centric functioning in your respective domains.

After listening to your training experiences, I am confident that our young officers are ready to march ahead with confidence, conviction and commitment. I am glad to see that you all are filled with energy and enthusiasm to take the country forward towards the goal of becoming a developed nation. I am told that during your training, you have travelled to different parts of the country to get firsthand experience of the diversity and culture of the country and to know about the problems and challenges faced by the people.

Dear young officers,

When you get posted in various departments, you should always remember that your actions and decisions will have an impact on the lives of all the citizens. The integrity, hard work and sincerity that each of you puts in your work, will play a huge role in determining the pace of development of our people.

Dear officers of Indian Audit & Accounts Service,

You are expected to function as the custodians of public trust and guardians of financial prudence. You should always adhere to the values of truth, transparency and fairness while making decisions and taking actions. The institution of the Comptroller and Auditor General is of utmost importance in ensuring accountability of government departments and organizations. Last month I participated in the event organised by CAG to celebrate the Audit Day. I am happy to note that leveraging the technology, the institution of CAG is moving towards paperless audit, and is preparing all audit reports in on-line mode. I am glad to know that the organisation is getting ready to use Artificial Intelligence in its functioning.

You should be proud to be part of such an institution which has strengthened its position in the governance system over the years. It is the duty of the young officers like you to carry forward this rich legacy.

Dear Officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), You will be entrusted with the task of administration and collection of several duties and taxes. You should bring to this service, the highest standards of integrity. Dear officers, challenges await you in various fields especially narcotics and drug trafficking. You will be required to function in different domains as administrators, investigators, lawyers and policymakers. You will also participate and contribute in negotiations of treaties of Government of India in trade, customs and related areas. In order to perform these multifarious tasks with efficiency, you need to be updated about the latest advancements in all fields and also work hand-in-hand with officers of other services and departments.

I am confident that you will rise to the expectations of the country and the people.

Dear Officers of Indian Statistical Service (ISS),

You have joined the service which requires a high degree of proficiency in statistical methods and their applications. Data or statistics forms a very important base for all activities ranging from formulation of policies to, analysing the outcome of the programmes and schemes. It is through statistics that the policymakers, experts and citizens get to know how the country is performing on key socio economic parameters. These are the times when the world is keenly observing India's growth and performance.

There is a need to generate accurate and high quality Data sets using the latest techniques of international standards. With the increasing availability of information through numerous channels, the significance of authentic and accurate statistics has increased manifold. You need to use the latest methods from fields like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Data Science and others for compiling official statistics and managing survey operations.

Dear young officers,

I am confident that you will play the role of change agents in the process of country’s transformation into a developed nation. You should always remember Gandhiji's Antyodaya principle and work for the welfare of the last or the poorest person. You have to set new benchmarks during this Amrit Kaal.

I wish you all a bright future and illustrious career. May you make the country proud!

Thank you. 
Jai Hind! 
Jai Bharat!