President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged newly inducted Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to reorient their approach towards cybercrime, strengthen public awareness and stay ahead of criminals using advanced technologies, including deepfakes.
Addressing probationers of the 78th Regular Recruit (RR) batch of the IPS (2025 batch) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President emphasised that the police are among the most visible symbols of governance for citizens and that people’s perception of good governance largely depends on the functioning of the police system.
She said citizens feel supported when police officers listen to their grievances with sensitivity and attentiveness. Urging the probationers to give priority to vulnerable sections, she called on them to address the concerns and alleviate the fears of socially and economically weaker individuals, who often lack access to senior officials.
The President also highlighted the importance of teamwork and continuous learning within the police force. Observing that junior personnel may sometimes be more proficient in using technology than senior officers, she advised the probationers not to hesitate to learn from even the most junior members of their teams.
She encouraged them to promote public participation, foster teamwork and prioritise the welfare of their personnel, noting that these measures would strengthen the capabilities and enthusiasm of the force.
Emphasising the importance of public trust, President Murmu said that although police officers derive authority from laws and rules, their real respect among people is earned through their performance and value system. She urged the officers to develop a strong commitment to serving citizens rather than cultivating a sense of superiority over them.
The President also drew attention to the growing threat of misinformation and orchestrated disinformation, which can spread fear among people and influence impressionable minds, particularly young people. Such activities, she noted, can take place at local, regional and national levels. She stressed that smart policing could help prevent these situations from escalating into serious challenges.
Highlighting the increasing scale and severity of cybercrime, President Murmu called for wider public awareness about its risks and urged police officers to fundamentally reassess their approach to tackling such offences.
She specifically pointed to deepfake content as an emerging threat and stressed that police personnel must remain technologically equipped and consistently stay ahead of criminals who exploit state-of-the-art technologies.
(PIB)
