A group of Officer Trainees of the 2012 and 2013 batch of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (May 31, 2014) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the IDES is mandated to deal with the municipal administration of 62 Cantonments and the management of defence land of about 17.5 lakh acres spread across the country. He stated that as officers of IDES, they must pursue application of modern management concepts and deploy suitable technology for record management of defence land under their jurisdiction. They were not only expected to know land laws and see that land records were updated, but also to apply their judicial mind and management skills. He welcomed the probationers to the interesting and challenging task which lay ahead of them. He urged the young Officer Trainees to carry out their duties with a spirit of service and devotion.