New Delhi, Aug 19: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged Indian Statistical Service officers to make official statistics more accessible to citizens, researchers and policy-makers, stressing that accurate and timely data is critical for evidence-based governance.
Addressing officer trainees of the Indian Information Service and Indian Statistical Service at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Murmu said the quality of public policy in a data-driven world depends greatly on the availability of credible statistics.
She said the Indian Statistical Service plays an important role in generating, analysing and interpreting official data that forms the basis of decisions affecting millions of people.
“The work of Indian Statistical Service officers will support evidence-based policy-making across diverse sectors of the economy and society,” the President said, urging the trainees to remember that “behind every dataset, there are real people and their lives.”
Murmu called for greater public accessibility of statistics and said the contribution of statistical service officers towards building a modern, trusted and technology-enabled statistical ecosystem would be important to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
She also stressed the wider role of public communication in strengthening governance. The President said the Indian Information Service and Indian Statistical Service may have different functions, but both share the common purpose of improving governance and serving citizens.
She said effective communication and credible information were essential pillars of a vibrant and responsive democracy.
Referring to the changing information environment, Murmu said social media had fundamentally altered how citizens receive, share and respond to information. She advised Indian Information Service officers to use digital platforms not only to inform and engage people but also to listen to their concerns and respond to them.
She said that as information travels rapidly, accuracy, credibility and public interest must guide official communication.
Murmu said the role of Information Service officers would become even more significant as India moves towards 2047, as well-informed citizens are better positioned to participate in development and democratic processes.
Advising the officer trainees as they begin their careers, the President urged them to continuously learn and adapt to changes in technology, media, economics and public policy.
She called upon them to remain curious, develop new competencies and learn from experience, while making decisions judiciously and conducting themselves with compassion and integrity.
The President also emphasised that the authority entrusted to public servants carries a responsibility to serve people with fairness, humility and dedication.
