Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday called for a balanced approach to development and environmental conservation, saying the two can go hand in hand and urging Indian Forest Service officers to combine modern scientific forestry with India’s traditional ecological wisdom.
Addressing Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationers of the 2025-27 batch and officers of the Royal Bhutan Forest Service undergoing training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, V-P Radhakrishnan said the officers would play a crucial role in managing India’s forests, wildlife, biodiversity and natural resources during the country’s journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.
He said the contribution of the Indian Forest Service would be integral to strengthening India’s ecological security and achieving the country’s target of net-zero emissions by 2070.
Development and conservation must complement each other
The Vice President said development and conservation should not be viewed as opposing objectives and called upon the officers to find an optimal balance between economic development and conservation, ecological security and livelihoods, as well as present needs and the interests of future generations.
Emphasising the importance of collective effort, V-P Radhakrishnan called for “team excellence” rather than individual excellence, saying sustained collective efforts help shape strong institutions and nations.
He also urged the probationers to respect the traditional knowledge accumulated by communities that have lived with forests and natural ecosystems for generations.
V-P Radhakrishnan said modern scientific forestry and India’s civilisational wisdom should complement each other in shaping the country’s sustainable future. He encouraged officers to adopt best practices while adapting them to local conditions and realities.
Technology must be combined with field experience
Highlighting the growing role of technology in forest management, the Vice President called upon the new generation of forest officers to use remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drones, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems.
However, he stressed that technology must be combined with field experience, sound judgement and sensitivity towards local communities.
On public service, V-P Radhakrishnan said integrity was non-negotiable and urged officers to ensure that their difficult decisions are guided by the Constitution, law, science and the larger public interest.
Women making greater contribution to forest services
The Vice President also highlighted the growing participation of women in the forest services.
He noted that women constitute around 17 per cent of the present batch of IFS probationers, describing the trend as an encouraging transformation and a reflection of Nari Shakti.
Advising the young officers not to measure their careers merely by the positions they hold, V-P Radhakrishnan urged them to assess their contribution by the forests they restore, wildlife they protect, communities whose trust they earn and the legacy they leave for future generations.
He concluded by calling upon the officers to keep the national interest above all else, stressing the principle of “Rashtra Pratham” (Nation First).
Uttarakhand Governor Lt. General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, IGNFA Director Rajendra Prasad, Course Director Ajeeta Longjam and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Vice President was welcomed at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun by the Uttarakhand Governor, Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
During his two-day visit to Uttarakhand, Radhakrishnan is also scheduled to address IAS probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie on Thursday.
