Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday asked Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Trainee Officers to remain open to new ideas, people, and perspectives from every culture and carry with them the values of India’s civilisational wisdom.
The IFS Trainee Officers, 2025 batch, who called on the Defence Minister, were told that the global community is closely following India’s growth story and looking up to its leadership role. He encouraged the officers to work with honesty and integrity to further India’s positive image.
The batch comprised 55 Trainee officers, including two trainees from Bhutan.
Addressing the officers, the Defence Minister voiced the Government’s determination to expand the capacity of the indigenous Defence industry for both local production and exports under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, and the crucial role played by Indian diplomats in realising the vision.
Enumerating the steps taken by the Government towards absorption of niche technologies in the Defence sector, he said India has traversed a long distance–from being a major importer of Defence equipment to a manufacturer and exporter of platforms in all domains.
He told them that while conducting their duties abroad, they should always remember they represent the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
Before the interaction, Defence Ministry officials briefed the trainee officers on various Defence diplomacy initiatives, Defence budget, Tri-service integration and Defence acquisition.
