President Murmu Urges IAS Officers To Deliver Fast, Ethical Governance Without Delay

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday warned that delays in administrative decision-making can effectively amount to denial of citizens’ rights, as she addressed the 2024 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationers at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She stressed that civil servants must combine ethical conduct with a strong sense of urgency in governance. According to her, efficiency in decision-making is as important as integrity in public service delivery. The President’s remarks came during an induction interaction with young officers entering the administrative services.

Addressing the probationers, Murmu underlined that IAS officers are expected to not only remain honest and ethical but also deliver measurable results on the ground. She said that the authority delegated to them must be exercised responsibly and without hesitation when public interest is involved. Governance, she noted, cannot function effectively if decisions are repeatedly postponed or avoided. The President also emphasized that accountability in administration begins with timely action.

Murmu drew a strong comparison between judicial delay and administrative delay, saying that just as delayed justice amounts to denial of justice, delayed governance decisions similarly deprive citizens of their legitimate benefits and entitlements. She cautioned officers against confusing inaction with morality, stating that avoiding decisions is not a sign of ethical conduct. Instead, she said, responsible decision-making aligned with public welfare represents the true essence of ethical governance in a democracy.

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The President also urged the young officers to move away from lingering colonial-era administrative mindsets and practices that still exist in parts of the system. She said such outdated approaches must be replaced with a more responsive, transparent, and citizen-centric governance model. Referring to India’s development vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, she stressed that civil servants play a crucial role in accelerating reforms and ensuring that governance keeps pace with national aspirations. She also highlighted the need to eliminate bureaucratic delays that slow down progress.

Murmu further emphasized the importance of empathy and inclusivity in public administration, asking officers to remain closely connected with the people they serve. She referred to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of a people-oriented civil service and said that sensitivity towards marginalised communities must be central to governance. She also noted that transparency and consistent performance would define an officer’s credibility over time. According to her, civil servants must ensure that the most vulnerable sections are not left behind in development.

Concluding her address, the President said that India’s rapid development trajectory demands continuous learning and adaptability from civil servants. She highlighted that officers will increasingly need to collaborate with experts from various specialised fields as governance becomes more complex. Murmu urged them to embrace change with courage and conviction while maintaining a strong focus on public interest. She added that in a democracy, civil servants must always prioritise the aspirations expressed through elected representatives.

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