India's transformation into a developed nation hinges on the energy and modern thinking of young officers: Radha Krishnan

Vice President of India Shri C P Radhakrishnan addressed the Officer Trainees of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) between 2023 and 2024, saying that the Defence Accounts Department has a rich heritage of over 275 years, making it one of the oldest departments of the Government of India.

The Vice President said that as the country moves towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, government employees will play a crucial role in turning this vision into reality. He recalled the explicit appeal made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Amrit Kaal and emphasized that development should focus on inclusive growth and last-mile delivery.

He said that the young energy and innovative thinking of young officers will be crucial in nation-building and urged them to adopt 'Seva Bhav and Kartavya Bodh' as their guiding mantra.

Emphasizing the importance of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, the Vice President said that the service plays a vital role in managing the financial resources of the Indian Armed Forces and related organizations. He said that as accounting and financial authorities for defence services, officers should understand and internalize the challenges faced by the Armed Forces while discharging their duties. He stressed that prudent financial management is essential to ensure the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.

The Vice President emphasized the need to maintain the highest standards of integrity, transparency, vigilance, and accountability, especially since public money represents the hard-earned income of taxpayers.

The Vice President also stressed the importance of continuous upskilling in an era of rapid technological and scientific advancements. He encouraged officers to effectively utilize platforms like iGOT Karmayogi for lifelong learning.

Speaking about values in public service, the Vice President said that while knowledge is essential, character is paramount. He reminded officers that they have been given a rare opportunity to bring about positive change in society among 1.4 billion citizens of India and that they should discharge this responsibility with humility and dedication.

In response to a question from a trained officer about expectations from government employees on the journey to Viksit Bharat, the Vice President emphasized that they should be innovative, adaptable to modern technology, passionate about their work, empathetic in their perspective, and ethical in administration.

The event was attended by Secretary Defence Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh; Controller General of Defence Accounts Mr. Vishojit Sahay; Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Mr. Raj Kumar Arora, among others.