The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has conferred postgraduate degrees on Group A Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service (IIS) for the first time after becoming a Deemed to be University.
The degrees were awarded at the Valedictory Function and Graduation Ceremony held for IIS Officer Trainees from the 2009, 2023 and 2024 batches.
The trainees were awarded the MA in Public Communication and Governance after successfully completing the prescribed academic and professional requirements.
Addressing the ceremony, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Chanchal Kumar, said the role of IIS officers goes beyond communication and that they serve as an important link between governance and citizens’ aspirations.
He said public communication is an integral part of governance and must keep pace with changing technologies and platforms. He highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, while cautioning that misinformation, deepfakes and synthetically generated content have created new challenges.
The Secretary stressed that communication should be a two-way process, with citizen feedback playing an important role in improving policies and their implementation.
He said while speed is important in communication, accuracy and credibility remain non-negotiable, as every communication carries the authority of an institution.
Chanchal Kumar also called upon IIS officers to continuously upgrade their skills, remain connected with the field and develop an understanding of different aspects of governance when entrusted with responsibilities beyond communication.
He emphasised that citizens, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable sections, should remain at the centre of their work. He urged officers to examine whether their efforts are helping people and, where necessary, rethink and replan their approach while responding to citizens’ concerns with compassion.
Vice Chancellor of IIMC, Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur, said the IIS Officer Trainees were the first recipients of postgraduate degrees from IIMC after it became a Deemed to be University.
She said the development reflects the strengthening of IIMC’s academic role and its close integration with professional training in communication.
Dr Gaur said communication is about creating understanding and not merely transmitting information. She urged the officer trainees to approach their responsibilities with clarity, objectivity and sensitivity.
She added that the MA degree also underlines the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly changing communication and media environment.
The introduction of the MA in Public Communication and Governance is aimed at strengthening the academic component of IIS professional training and bringing together the study of public communication, media and governance.
