Op Sindoor ‘brilliant’ example of military-civil fusion: Rajnath

The administrative machinery worked seamlessly with the armed forces to communicate vital information and build public confidence, said Singh, while addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The academy is the training school for civilian bureaucracy.

The minister called upon the young civil servants to understand their crucial role in safeguarding national interests, and stay ready for such critical situations.

He said during Operation Sindoor, the armed forces destroyed the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in a balanced and non-escalatory response, but it was the misbehaviour of the neighbouring country, which did not allow the situation along the border to return to normal.

He commended the soldiers for their bravery and appreciated the work carried out by the administrative officers as they communicated crucial information and ensured successful conduct of mock drills across the country.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’, Singh emphasised that civil servants have a pivotal role to play in accelerating the goal of a self-reliant and developed India.

“When our government was formed in 2014, India was ranked 11th in terms of the size of its economy. In the last 9-10 years, we have jumped to the fourth spot,” he added.

The minister called upon the civil servants to work innovatively in the technology-driven era and find solutions to the problems of the people.

Singh also acknowledged the continuing rise of women in the civil services, noting that in the latest UPSC examination, a woman secured the top rank, while three of the top five candidates were women.

He also spoke about the leadership of Lal Bahadur Shastri during the 1965 war with Pakistan and recalled his role in the Green Revolution and his message of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

As the UPSC marks its 100th year, he highlighted that the partnership between the commission and LBSNAA had shaped generations of administrators and would continue to strengthen India’s governance architecture.

Earlier, Singh paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and former Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.