ADDRESS BY THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT. DROUPADI MURMU ON THE OCCASION OF CALL ON BY THE PROBATIONERS OF CENTRAL POWER ENGINEERING SERVICE AND INDIAN TRADE SERVICE

I congratulate you all for your selection in the prestigious services. I believe that your training has enabled you to make effective contribution in the progress of power and trade sectors of India. Both these services are important in the context of economic growth and development of the country. One more thing that is common for both these sectors is that they promote connectivity and an interconnected eco-system further boosts energy and trade sectors.

Dear officers of Central Power Engineering Service,

Power sector is one of the prime movers for India’s development. The goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat is closely connected to a robust power sector. The aims of uninterrupted power supply to all and improved standards of living would be possible due to your dedication and commitment towards expanding and maintaining a strong Power infrastructure through engineering solutions.

I am told that Central Power Engineering Service has been contributing significantly for planned growth in the areas of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. It has played a crucial role in quality, reliability and safety of power systems. Today, India has an Installed Capacity of about 424 Giga Watts with one interconnected National Grid for seamless power flow. Credit for this also goes to the officers of Central Power Engineering Service.

Dear officers,

One of the indicators of socio-economic progress of a country is energy demand and consumption. Therefore as India moves ahead to become the 3 rd largest economy of the world, demand and consumption of power will certainly increase which will further drive the country’s development. Also, with growing awareness and progress, the expectations regarding electricity supply have changed. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are the key pillars for achieving India’s goal of net zero emissions. According to International Energy Agency, energy efficiency is called the “first fuel” in clean energy transitions. It provides some of the quickest and most cost-effective climate change mitigation options. It also reduces energy bills and strengthens energy security. I urge you to focus on increasing energy efficiency which will make it easier to achieve the climate change related goals. You may face several challenges in the process of energy transition and grid integration but you must play productive role in adopting holistic approach to address the challenges.

Dear young officers,

You should explore and adopt the latest technologies in the field of power engineering. You should strive to achieve bigger milestones through greater use of technology and innovation. The future of the power sector lies in research and innovation be it in energy storage, grid management, or new forms of energy generation. I urge you to give importance to research and development in power sector so that India remains competitive at the global stage.

Dear officers of Indian Trade Service,

As we know, trade forms the backbone of economies. It promotes investment, creates jobs, drives economic growth, and improves standards of living. Trade discussion forms important part of almost all bilateral and multilateral meetings and summits. During my meetings with Heads of States and delegations also, trade related issues are discussed. Here I would like to share that India is at the forefront of global trade facilitation efforts. India is committed to digital and sustainable trade facilitation and you are going to play key role in trade promotion. You, the Indian Trade Service officers, are not just trade regulators, but are trade facilitators too.

Your service demands the knowledge of both international relations and nuances of trade operations so that you can bring up new dimensions in trade negotiations and trade policies and provide new impetus to boost India’s trade. You also have a major role in formulating strategies to boost exports from India. As you must be aware, Foreign Trade Policy 2023 is based on principles of ‘trust’ and ‘partnership’ with the exporters. It also focuses on process re-engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters. You should also learn and use the latest tools of trade analytics to understand the emerging international trade scenario. You require holistic outlook as well as specific domain expertise to comprehend and handle global challenges.

Dear officers,

As we know, the social, economic, political interests of a nation are interlinked, therefore, whatever decisions you make and the actions you take, will have an impact on the overall development of the country. You should align yourselves to the broader goals and economic interests of India.

I convey my best wishes to you all for a bright future.

Thank you! 
Jai Hind! 
Jai Bharat!