New Delhi, 19 August 2025(HS): In a significant interaction earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the 33 Officer Trainees of the 2024 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) batch at his residence, underscoring the vital role they embody as India’s future diplomats in an increasingly complex multipolar world. The PM commended India’s emergence as a “Vishwabandhu” — a global friend to all — and emphasized the nation’s proactive position as a first responder to countries in need, spotlighting India’s dedication to capacity building and collaboration with the Global South.

Addressing the trainees, Prime Minister Modi painted a compelling vision of India’s diplomatic trajectory, framing their responsibilities as pivotal to sculpting the country’s ascent toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted the dynamic nature of foreign policy and urged them to harness their training to advance India’s stature as a “Vishwanandhu” on the international stage.

The Officer Trainees shared insights from their diverse research assignments covering critical areas such as maritime diplomacy, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, Ayurveda, cultural connections, and the strategic employment of food and soft power. These discussions underscored India’s broad spectrum of diplomatic outreach and innovation.

Prime Minister Modi stressed the power of communication in today’s technology-driven era, urging the officers to explore and enhance the websites of Indian missions worldwide to better engage with the Indian diaspora. He called on them to ignite curiosity about India among global youth through interactive initiatives such as “Know Your Bharat” quizzes and debates featuring contemporary cultural landmarks like the Mahakumbh festival and the millennial celebration of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.

In a forward-looking note, the PM highlighted emerging global opportunities in the space sector, emphasizing India’s untapped potential to pioneer private sector involvement and propel startups onto the international stage.

This vibrant dialogue not only reinforced the essential role of the IFS officers in shaping India’s foreign relations but also invigorated their commitment as torchbearers of India’s diplomatic mission, poised at the threshold of one of the nation’s most transformative eras.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar