Mussoorie: Addressing the 100th Foundation Course for the 2025 batch of civil services probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Union Minister Jitendra Singh urged the officer trainees to see themselves as “the architects of 2047 India”. He said their role as custodians of the Constitution would be central to building a developed, citizen-centric nation as the country approaches its centenary of independence.
Congratulating the new entrants, the minister described the Foundation Course as a transformative period. “This course marks your transition from academic learning to the structured realm of public service, preparing you to shoulder the immense responsibility of governance,” he told the trainees. The 2025 cohort represents 19 civil services, including the All India Services, Central Services, and the Royal Bhutan Civil Service, which Singh said reflects the inclusive character of India’s administration.
The minister inaugurated the Academy’s new 800-seater auditorium, Kartavyashila, built at a cost of ₹50 crore. Calling it “a crucible of ideas, debates, and inspiration”, he said the facility would strengthen collective learning and camaraderie among future administrators. He also opened the new One District One Product (ODOP) Display Hall and Facilitation Centre, which will introduce officer trainees to local enterprise models and their potential to contribute to national markets.
Touching on the evolving nature of training, Singh highlighted initiatives such as the Himalayan Study Tour, attachments with Central Armed Police Forces, village immersions, and the Aarambh 7.0 programme at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, where trainees will interact with the Prime Minister. These experiences, he said, would instill resilience, empathy, and teamwork alongside professional skills.
He also drew attention to Mission Karmayogi, the government’s civil service capacity-building programme, which is designed to ensure continuous learning in an evolving governance environment. “As responsibilities shift, you must remain adaptable and uphold humility, integrity, and moral courage,” he said.
At the ceremony, Singh oversaw the sealing of the 2024 batch’s vision statements in a time capsule, to be opened in 2047 when the officers return to reflect on their journeys. Emphasising the responsibility ahead, he told the new entrants, “You didn’t choose the timing of your birth, but you have been entrusted with this responsibility. Treat it as a providential privilege.”
BI Bureau
