- President meets 2024 IFS trainees
- Focus on global challenges ahead
- Cultural diplomacy highlighted
- Alignment with Viksit Bharat vision
India’s diplomatic corps plays a crucial role in shaping the nation’s presence on the global stage. Each new batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers enters service at a time when world politics, technology, and climate crises demand agility and foresight. On August 19, 2025, the latest group of trainees met the President of India, marking a milestone in their journey as future representatives of the country.
President Congratulates New Trainees
The 2024 batch of IFS officer trainees called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. She congratulated the young officers, urging them to uphold India’s values of peace, pluralism, and dialogue. According to media reports, the President also encouraged them to embrace diverse cultures and fresh perspectives while serving abroad.
Navigating a Changing World Order
President Murmu highlighted rapid global shifts, including climate change, digital revolutions, contested multilateralism, and geopolitical challenges. She emphasized that Indian diplomats must remain agile and adaptable to address these issues. As per several media reports, she noted that India, as a major democracy and growing economic power, is increasingly central to solutions on global disparities, terrorism, and sustainability.
Diplomats as India’s First Representatives
The President reminded the trainees that IFS officers are India’s first point of contact on foreign soil. She stressed that their words, demeanor, and conduct will reflect the nation’s values in international forums.
Emphasis on Cultural Diplomacy
Highlighting India’s civilizational heritage, President Murmu underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy. She spoke of yoga, Ayurveda, and traditional practices, including millets, as powerful tools of soft power. She encouraged the diplomats to promote India’s artistic, linguistic, and spiritual legacy with creativity and ambition.
Foreign Policy Linked to National Goals
President Murmu underlined the connection between India’s foreign policy and its domestic priorities. She urged the young officers to align their work with the national vision of building a developed India by 2047. She described them as custodians of India’s core interests and ambassadors of its ethos.
The interaction marked the formal address to the newly inducted IFS officer trainees. With emphasis on values, agility, cultural outreach, and national priorities, the President outlined the expectations shaping India’s future diplomatic leadership.
This engagement places responsibility on the next generation of diplomats. Their work may expand India’s influence abroad while promoting peace, sustainability, and cultural connections, reflecting the nation’s domestic vision and global aspirations in years ahead.
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