Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday called on officer trainees of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) to adopt “Seva Bhav” (spirit of service) and “Kartavya Bodh” (sense of duty) as their guiding principles, stressing that collective efforts are key to building an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.
Addressing officer trainees of the 2023 and 2024 IDAS batches at the Vice-President’s Enclave, Radhakrishnan said civil servants will play a crucial role in realising India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call during the Amrit Kaal, he emphasised that development must be inclusive and ensure last-mile delivery.
The Vice-President noted that the Defence Accounts Department has a legacy of over 275 years, making it one of the oldest departments of the Government of India. Highlighting the importance of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, he said the service plays a critical role in managing the financial resources of the Armed Forces and allied organisations.
V-P Radhakrishnan said prudent financial management is essential to ensure the operational readiness of the Armed Forces, and urged officers to understand the challenges faced by the defence services while discharging their financial responsibilities. He stressed that integrity, transparency, vigilance and accountability must guide all financial decision-making, particularly as public funds represent the hard-earned money of taxpayers.
The Vice-President also underscored the need for continuous capacity building in an era of rapid technological and scientific change. He encouraged officers to make use of platforms such as iGOT Karmayogi for lifelong learning and skill enhancement.
Speaking on values in public service, V-P Radhakrishnan said that while knowledge is important, character is paramount. He reminded the trainees that they have been entrusted with a rare opportunity to serve the nation and bring about positive change, and must do so with humility and dedication.
Responding to a question on expectations from civil servants in the journey towards Viksit Bharat, the Vice-President urged the officers to remain innovative, adapt to modern technologies, work with enthusiasm, show empathy in their approach and uphold ethical standards in administration.
The event was attended by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Controller General of Defence Accounts Vishvajit Sahay, Financial Adviser (Defence Services) Raj Kumar Arora, and other senior officials.
