President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said delays in administrative decision-making amount to depriving citizens of their legitimate rights and urged young civil servants to act decisively in public interest instead of avoiding responsibility.
Addressing Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers of the 2024 batch at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Murmu said governance and ethics must go hand in hand and stressed that officers were expected not only to remain honest and ethical but also to deliver effective results.
“You have to be honest and ethical. At the same time, you have to deliver results. IAS officers are expected to exercise the powers delegated to them,” the President said.
She asserted that refraining from taking decisions should not be mistaken for morality and emphasised that timely and correct decisions in line with public interest represented the true essence of ethical governance.
“Just as a delay in the delivery of justice is deemed a denial of justice, so too is a delay in administrative decision-making tantamount to depriving people of their legitimate interests,” Murmu said.
The President’s remarks come amid increasing discussions over bureaucratic accountability, administrative delays and the need for faster governance delivery mechanisms as India pushes towards its ‘Viksit Bharat’ development vision.
Murmu also referred to former Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and said remnants of colonial-era practices and behaviour patterns still persisted in some areas of governance.
“Such practices must be eradicated. You have to contribute to this national objective,” she told the probationary officers.
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Quoting Patel’s 1947 address to IAS probationers, Murmu highlighted the importance of empathy and public service in administration, saying officers should see themselves as part of the people they serve.
“This statement becomes especially relevant in the context of our ongoing national efforts for mental decolonisation,” she added.
The President urged officers not to become complacent by merely accepting the status quo, saying effective civil servants are identified by their ability to recognise the need for change and pursue it with courage and conviction.
“To achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat and elevate our society to the pinnacle of progress, officers will often have to move forward by striving against the tide,” she said.
Murmu advised the officers to keep marginalised communities at the centre of governance and said neutrality, transparency and integrity would define their credibility as administrators.
“Your sensitivity will be the measure of your commitment to inclusivity. Your credibility will be built on your transparency and sustained performance,” she said.
The President also noted that as India enters a higher orbit of development, expectations from IAS officers have significantly increased. She stressed the need for continuous learning and adaptability, particularly as officers increasingly work alongside experts in specialised fields.
Murmu further said that in a democracy, the aspirations of citizens are articulated through elected representatives and civil servants must accord priority to issues raised in public interest.
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