A group of Probationers of Indian Postal Service of 2010-2013 batches and Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service of 2011-2013 batches called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (April 16, 2014) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Addressing the probationers, the President said that they were entering government service at a time of great flux and ever increasing expectations of the citizenry from our public machinery. The environment today presents myriad challenges and opportunities at the same time. The State is today no longer merely responsible for the maintenance of law and order or the dispensation of justice. Its role today is far more pro-active and far more inclusive in that it has to promote growth with equity. He said that the development paradigm has changed. The philosophy of development today is empowerment of people through entitlements which are backed by legal guarantees such as Right to Information, Right to Education etc.

The President stated that as the nature and scope of the activities of the State changes, the role of its administration assumes greater importance. Therefore, the greatest challenge before the civil servants today is to adjust to this new role of the Government. He urged the officer trainees to be the agents of the change which they wish to see in their society and country.