Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development delivered the keynote address at valedictory ceremony of the 22nd Mid-Career Training Programme (MCTP) (Phase III) at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie today.

The Phase III MCTP is a mid-career training programme for officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with nine to fourteen years of service experience.

Shri Sriram Taranikanti, Director, LBSNAA; along with Shri Udit Agrawal, Joint Director; Shri Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Deputy Director (Senior) and Course Coordinator; and Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Professor of Public Administration, were also present at the occasion.

In his address, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan extolled the dedication of civil servants to the constitutional ideals of service and development. He remarked that the service was ‘a lifelong commitment to serve the country and its people.’ Quoting the essence of ‘Desh ke liye aur desh ki janta ke liye,’ he urged officers to internalise values of humility, discipline, and empathy, and to ensure that governance is participatory, compassionate, and reaches every citizen.

He further reflected on Maharshi Aurobindo’s vision of dynamic action, encouraging the officers to pursue transformation not through authority, but through awakening. He reinforced the constitutional ethos embedded in ‘Amar rahen wo moolya’ and reaffirmed the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ as the country’s global vision of unity and shared responsibility.

Highlighting India’s agricultural strength, Shri Chouhan noted that the future of national development lies in rural prosperity. “From lab to land, the focus must be on translating innovation into real benefit for our farmers,” he said, adding that India’s diverse agro-climatic zones position it as a global food basket.

He also spoke of the importance of empowering women through landmark initiatives such as ‘Ladli Laxmi’ and ‘Ladli Behna’, affirming that “true development is incomplete without the dignity, participation, and empowerment of women.”

Shri Sriram Taranikanti, Director, LBSNAA, in his remarks, underscored the importance of reflection, institutional stewardship, and ethical leadership. He called upon officers to align their work with the national aspirations of Viksit Bharat @2047, and to emerge as leaders committed to innovation and integrity.

The four-week programme, which commenced on 12th May 2025, saw the participation of over 84 IAS officers representing 16 State and Union Territory cadres. It was designed to equip mid-career officers with strategic leadership capabilities, deepen their understanding of governance complexities, and enhance their ability to effect systemic transformation.

The course combined intensive classroom discussions with experiential learning, peer engagement, sectoral dialogues, and field exposure visits. With its multidimensional approach, the MCTP reaffirmed LBSNAA’s core mission: to nurture visionary, value-based leadership in the Indian Civil Services aligned with Mission Karmayogi.

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PSF/AR

22nd Press Release