**Executive Summary**
On July 17, 2026, probationers of the 2024 and 2025 batches of the Indian Forest Service met with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The President emphasized the officers' roles as custodians of India's natural heritage and the necessity of integrating community participation into conservation efforts. She highlighted that ecological security is fundamental to achieving the national goal of "Viksit Bharat by 2047."
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Role of Forest Officers**
* Officers are designated as custodians of India's natural heritage rather than mere administrators.
* Their work is central to addressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
* Young officers are advised to prioritize increasing forest cover as a foundation for life and environmental security.
**Conservation Strategy**
* Ecological protection must be harmonized with the legitimate aspirations of people living in and around forests.
* Development and conservation should be viewed as complementary goals rather than opposing forces.
* Conservation efforts are deemed more effective and long-lasting when local communities are treated as stakeholders.
**Community Engagement**
* Officers are urged to encourage public participation in conservation, restoration, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
* Insights from tribal communities, forest dwellers, women, farmers, and local institutions are essential for effective management.
**National Vision**
* Ecological security is identified as an integral component of the "Viksit Bharat by 2047" progress plan.
* Public service in this sector aims to ensure India's growth remains green, inclusive, and sustainable.
**Training Details**
* Probationers are currently undergoing professional training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun.
* The 2024 batch consists of 111 officer trainees, and the 2025 batch consists of 131 officer trainees.
* Both batches include two officer trainees from Bhutan.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Forest Service Probationers**
**Impact**
They are tasked with a broader mandate that includes global sustainable development and environmental security.
**Action Required**
Officers must focus on increasing forest cover and developing solutions where nature and communities can thrive together.
**Local and Tribal Communities**
**Impact**
These groups are recognized as primary stakeholders whose views and concerns are vital to conservation success.
**Action Required**
Communities are encouraged to participate in restoration and sustainable livelihood initiatives alongside forest officials.
**Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA)**
**Impact**
The institution is responsible for the professional preparation of 242 trainees across two current batches.
**Action Required**
The academy must continue providing professional training to both Indian and Bhutanese officer trainees to meet national ecological goals.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Forest Service (IFS): One of the three All India Services responsible for the management of India's forests, wildlife, and natural heritage.
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun: The premier training institution where probationers of the Indian Forest Service undergo their professional training.
Viksit Bharat by 2047: The national goal to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence, which includes ecological security as a key component.
Droupadi Murmu: The President of India who addressed the forest service officers on the importance of community involvement in forest conservation.
President's Secretariat
PROBATIONERS OF INDIAN FOREST SERVICE
CALL ON THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA
WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN
PROTECTING FORESTS, CONSERVATION EFFORTS WILL
BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND LONG-LASTING: PRESIDENT
DROUPADI MURMU
प्रव तथ: 17 JUL 2026 2:16PM by PIB Delhi
Probationers of the Indian Forest Service called on the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu at
Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (July 17, 2026).
Addressing the officers, the President said that they are not only administrators of forests. They are
custodians of India's natural heritage. Their role has become more significant today. The world is facing
the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Forests are central to addressing these challenges.
Work of Indian Forest Service officers will therefore contribute not only to India's environmental security
but also to global efforts towards sustainable development. She advised the young officers to focus on
increasing forest cover as the forests are the foundation of life on Earth.The President said that ecological protection must be harmonized with the legitimate aspirations of people
who live in and around forests. Development and conservation should not be viewed as opposing goals.
She advised young officers to work towards solutions where both nature and communities can thrive
together. She urged them to encourage people's participation in conservation, restoration and sustainable
livelihood initiatives. She said that understanding the views and concerns of tribal communities, forest
dwellers, women, farmers and local institutions will provide them with valuable insight. When
communities are stakeholders in protecting forests, conservation efforts will be more effective and long-
lasting.
The President said that public service is about improving the lives of the people and contributing to the
nation’s progress. Ecological security is integral to the national goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. She
expressed confidence that as Indian Forest Service officers, young officers will play a defining role in
ensuring that India's progress remains green, inclusive and sustainable.The Probationers of two batches of the Indian Forest Service are presently undergoing their professional
training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun. The 2024 batch comprises 111 officer
trainees, while the 2025 batch comprises 131 officer trainees, including two officer trainees from Bhutan
in each batch.
Please click here to see the President’s Speech
***
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