On May 20, 2026, IAS officers of the 2024 batch, currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Addressing the young officers, President Murmu said the IAS has played a pivotal role in India’s development, and expectations have now risen as the country aims for higher growth. She urged them to adapt quickly, learn rapidly, and work across diverse fields while heading expert teams.

She emphasised that officers must maintain neutrality, transparency, and integrity while blending compassion with rationality. “Be sensitive without being sentimental,” she advised. They should uphold ethics, deliver timely results, and avoid delays in decision-making, which she equated to denying public interest.
President Murmu stressed prioritising issues raised by elected representatives and keeping the people, especially the marginalised, at the centre of all actions to realise the vision of a developed and inclusive 'Viksit Bharat'.