Dehradun, August 20: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed the Indian Forest Service (IFS) candidates of the 2025-2027 batch and officials from the Royal Bhutan Forest Service at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun on Wednesday.
Congratulating the trainees, the Vice President emphasized their crucial role in managing India’s forests, wildlife, biodiversity, and valuable natural resources as the country progresses towards a developed India by 2047. He highlighted the significant contribution of the Indian Forest Service in strengthening ecological security and achieving the target of net-zero emissions by 2070.
Radhakrishnan stated that development and conservation are not opposing forces but can coexist harmoniously. He urged the officials to establish a balance between conservation and development, ecological security and livelihoods, as well as current needs and the interests of future generations.
Promoting team excellence over individual achievement, Radhakrishnan noted that continuous collective efforts are essential for building nations and institutions. He stressed the importance of respecting traditional knowledge accumulated by communities living in harmony with forests and natural ecosystems for generations.
Emphasizing integrity in public service, the Vice President asserted that there should be no compromise on integrity. He advised that difficult decisions should be guided by the Constitution, law, science, and the broader public interest. He also encouraged officials to adopt best practices tailored to local conditions.
Highlighting the increasing role of technology in forestry, he called upon the new generation of officials to integrate remote sensing, GIS, drones, artificial intelligence, and data-driven systems with regional experience, sound judgment, and sensitivity towards people.
The Vice President stated that modern scientific forestry and India’s civilizational knowledge must complement each other in building a sustainable future for the country. He also acknowledged the growing participation of women in forest services, noting that approximately 17% of the current batch consists of women, which he described as an encouraging change and a testament to women’s empowerment.
Advising officials to evaluate their careers not just by their positions but by their contributions to restored forests, protected wildlife, communities they have earned trust from, and the legacy left for future generations, he called for prioritizing national interest, stating: “Nation First.”
The event was attended by Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.), Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, IGNFA Director Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Course Director Ajita Longjam, and other dignitaries.
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