New Delhi: A group of Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service (IIS) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), with the President stressing the importance of credible communication, accurate data, integrity and public service in strengthening governance.
Addressing the officer trainees, President Murmu said that although the IIS and ISS have different areas of responsibility, both services share a common objective of improving the quality of governance and serving citizens. She described effective communication and credible information as essential pillars of a vibrant and responsive democracy.
The President advised the trainees to remain open to learning and adapt to rapid changes in technology, media, economics and public policy. She urged them to remain curious, develop new competencies and learn from experience, while being judicious in decision-making, compassionate in conduct and unwavering in maintaining integrity.
Speaking about the Indian Information Service, President Murmu highlighted its role in strengthening the Government’s connect with citizens. She noted that social media has transformed how people receive, share and respond to information, and advised IIS officers to use these platforms not only to inform and engage citizens but also to listen to and respond to their concerns.
She stressed that as information travels rapidly, accuracy, credibility and public interest should remain the guiding principles of government communication. She added that the role of IIS officers would become increasingly important as India moves towards 2047, as well-informed citizens can participate more actively in development and democratic processes.
On the Indian Statistical Service, the President said that in a data-driven world, the quality of public policy depends significantly on the availability of accurate, timely and credible data. She noted that ISS officers play an important role in generating, analysing and interpreting official statistics that underpin decisions affecting millions of citizens.
President Murmu urged the ISS trainees to remember that behind every dataset are real people and their lives. She also called for making statistics more accessible to citizens, researchers and policymakers, saying that their contribution to a modern, trusted and technology-enabled statistical ecosystem would be important to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
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