Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer Trainees of the 2024 batch at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The batch comprises 33 officer trainees from various states and Union Territories.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister spoke about India’s growing role in the multipolar world, describing the country as a Vishwabandhu—a friend to all. He cited India’s track record as a first responder in times of global need and underlined the nation’s contributions to capacity building and development partnerships with the Global South.
Highlighting their role as future diplomats, PM Modi said the officer trainees would play a key part in shaping India’s foreign policy as the country works towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He encouraged them to understand the evolving global landscape, including new areas of diplomacy such as maritime affairs, technology, culture, and soft power.
The officer trainees shared insights from their training and research, covering topics like maritime diplomacy, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, Ayurveda, cultural diplomacy, food heritage, and soft power.
Underscoring the importance of communication in a technology-driven world, the Prime Minister urged the trainees to explore mission websites and suggest improvements to enhance outreach, particularly for the Indian diaspora. He also advised them to create curiosity about India among young people abroad through initiatives such as Know Your Bharat quizzes and debates, which should include contemporary themes like the Mahakumbh and the millennium celebrations of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.
