New Delhi, February 16 Highlighting the time of profound global transformation when new rules are reshaping interactions between nations, President Droupadi Murmu told the Indian Trade Service (ITS) trainee officers on Monday that their decisions can shape India’s economic trajectory for decades to come and asked them to balance openness with the protection of core priorities.
Addressing the probationers of the Indian Trade Service (ITS), the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), and the Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQA), who met her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that the service they have joined gives them the opportunity to serve the nation through every decision and action during their careers.
Murmu told the ITS trainee officers that they should remember that each policy they implement, each trade barrier they address, and each agreement they support will contribute to India’s emergence as a stronger and more respected trading partner globally.
“You have joined the service at a time of profound global transformation. Digital trade, sustainability requirements, and new global rules are reshaping how nations interact. You are at a unique intersection: where law meets enterprise, negotiation meets strategy, and where your decisions can shape India’s economic trajectory for decades to come,” she said.
Asking the probationers to keep national interest as their guiding compass and to balance openness with the protection of core priorities, the President said that they will contribute to attracting investment, creating jobs, and fostering environments where Indian businesses can innovate, expand, and compete globally.
“I understand that your training at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has given you the analytical sharpness and global perspective essential for understanding today’s complex trade environment,” she said.
In her address to the trainee officers of the IA&AS, the President said that the impact and value addition of the framework of accountability on the governance system is enhanced when there is synergy between the Executive and Audit institutions.
“An effective partnership between Audit and Executive helps to enhance the efficacy of public spending and helps in achieving desired outcomes,” she said.
Emphasising that the institution of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India performs a very important function of ensuring accountability of the Executive to the legislature, she said that the probationers must always strive to uphold the traditions and values of the Constitution and the service.
She told the DAQA trainee probationers that quality assurance is the “backbone of the entire value-chain” of defence production and that their commitment is important for making India self-reliant in the defence sector.
Murmu said that the DAQA trainees are entering a domain where they must work with precision and vigilance to contribute to national security.
“India is rising as a global power. Our defence production is accelerating. Indigenous aerospace innovation is expanding…You should come up with innovative approaches to contribute to the transformation of our Armed Forces into a technologically-advanced combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations,” she said.
The President said that the DAQA probationers will play a critical role in safeguarding the country’s defence aerospace capabilities and in strengthening the operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
“Your role places you at a powerful intersection of science, technology, engineering, and national defence. You will engage with cutting-edge aerospace technology, indigenous manufacturing, private industry partners, start-ups, and strategic defence programmes,” she added.
The President told the trainee officers that their prime responsibility is to ensure the highest quality standards for technologically advanced and world-class arms and ammunition for the Defence forces.