Srinagar, Oct 29 (KNS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday reminded successful candidates of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 and Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) Examination 2024 that clearing a competitive examination was only the beginning of their responsibilities, saying public office was a trust placed in them by the people rather than a privilege to be enjoyed.
Addressing a felicitation ceremony in Srinagar, Sinha urged the young officers to make humility, compassion and integrity the guiding principles of their careers, stressing that the true measure of an administrator lay in the difference made to the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.
“Behind every file lies a precious life. I urge you to also look at the data hidden behind files, and to recognise the people standing behind those figures and understand their needs,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He cautioned the successful candidates against allowing positions and designations to define their approach to public service, observing that authority carried an obligation to serve rather than a claim to special treatment.
“Leadership is not a special privilege, but a great responsibility to serve others, guide them, support them, and empower them,” he said.
Congratulating the candidates on their achievements, Sinha also acknowledged the sacrifices and support of their parents, whose efforts, he said, had helped them realise their aspirations.
Addressing the JKAS qualifiers in particular, the Lieutenant Governor said their success reflected not merely individual achievement but also the aspirations, resilience and democratic spirit of Jammu and Kashmir.
He referred to the region's intellectual and cultural heritage and expressed confidence that the young officers would contribute to justice, public welfare and responsive administration.
Recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's description of the civil services as the country's “steel frame”, Sinha said officers must preserve the dignity of public institutions through their conduct and decisions.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He urged them to pursue meaningful work rather than public recognition, saying administrative success should be judged by the relief delivered to citizens and the problems resolved on the ground.
Outlining a three-stage approach to their professional careers, the Lieutenant Governor advised the officers to begin by understanding ground realities through direct engagement with citizens and local institutions.
The next stage, he said, should focus on developing transparent, technology-enabled systems capable of reducing delays, improving service delivery and making administration more responsive.
As they assumed greater responsibilities, he urged them to safeguard institutional integrity, uphold ethical standards and ensure that public institutions remained accountable to the people.
Sinha also emphasised the importance of evidence-based decision-making, compassion and the ability to recognise the human consequences of administrative decisions.
He said the foundation of a developed India by 2047 would be shaped by the policies, values and ethical choices of the present generation of public servants.
“Responsibility of the future rests upon your shoulders. There are moments when the course of history changes with extraordinary speed. I believe we are passing through such an era today,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed hope that the young officers would build careers remembered for their contribution to public welfare rather than the positions they occupied.
“I hope you will serve the people in such a way that it becomes visible in their lives, and that your life is recognised not by the prestige of your office, but by the outcomes of public welfare,” he said.
Director General, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (JKIMPARD), Rehana Batul; SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Director, Exceptional Academy, Owais Ali Bhat; and office-bearers of the academy attended the ceremony. (KNS)