Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Nov 29 (KNO): Stating that ‘Operation Sindoor’ demonstrated effective civil–military coordination, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) rattled the neighbouring country.
Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 100th Common Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Singh, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “During the Operation Sindoor administrative machinery and the armed forces worked together to communicate critical information and maintain public confidence across the country.”
He said the armed forces carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in a balanced and non-escalatory response. “Action rattled the neighbouring country,” he added.
The Defence Minister said, “The tension prevailed on borders due to the conduct of the neighbouring country, but the administrative officers ensured accurate communication and execution of mock drills nationwide.”
Singh said the episode reflected the importance of coordination between governance and national security and called for strengthening the connect as India pursues the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
He said young civil servants must recognise their contribution to protecting national interests and remain prepared for unexpected and critical situations similar to those faced by soldiers on the front line.
He said the government has pushed reforms aimed at increasing administrative efficiency since 2014 and added that civil servants play a central role in India’s economic progress.
Mentioning that India has moved from the 11th to the fourth-largest economy in the last decade, he said global institutions now expect India to become the world’s third-largest economy in the next two to three years.
“You are not platonic guardians but public servants. You are not just providers but facilitators of empowerment,” he told the trainee officers, urging them to uphold integrity, public accountability and an administrative culture in which honesty becomes a standard practice.
He encouraged young officers to use technology to expand accessibility and transparency while ensuring that it remains a tool rather than an end.
He cited schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, and the faceless assessment system of the Income Tax Department as examples of technology-based governance.
Singh also referred to the Ministry of Defence’s AI-driven SAMPURNA initiative, which analyses defence procurement and payments.
He said trainees should meet citizens with empathy and understanding, particularly the vulnerable sections of society whose struggles are influenced by broader social and economic factors. He expressed confidence in the growing representation of women in the Civil Services, noting the recent UPSC results where women secured top positions.
Singh described the Foundation Course at LBSNAA as a commitment to building capable and sensitive governance and lauded the academy for strengthening the country’s administrative system.
Earlier, he paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and inaugurated an ODOP Pavilion on the academy premises—(KNO)