IIS Officers Serve as Critical Link Between State & Citizens; IIMC Awards First-Ever Master’s Degrees to Trainees
Information & Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar urges officers to uphold credibility amid the era of deepfakes and AI, stressing citizen-first governance.
NEW DELHI: Marking a landmark development in government communication and academic training, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) awarded its inaugural postgraduate degrees to Indian Information Service (IIS) Group ‘A’ Officer Trainees during a special Valedictory and Convocation Ceremony held in the national capital today.
The graduating cohorts included officer trainees from the 2009, 2023, and 2024 batches, who were formally conferred the Master of Arts in Public Communication & Governance. This historic event marks the institute’s first degree-granting convocation since attaining Deemed-to-be-University status, reflecting a major leap in harmonizing professional civil service preparation with rigorous academic credentials.
Bridging Policy and Public Aspirations
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Chanchal Kumar, underlined that the mandate of information officers extends far beyond standard administrative messaging. He characterized IIS officers as vital conduits bridging state governance with the evolving aspirations of citizens, built upon pillars of credibility, speed, and empathy.
“Public communication is not a one-way channel; it must remain an interactive dialogue where feedback from the ground directly refines governance. While agility is crucial in today’s fast-moving information space, accuracy and credibility remain absolutely non-negotiable.”
Shri Kumar cautioned the graduating officers regarding the rapid disruption brought by Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing that emerging technologies present opportunities but also amplify challenges such as deceptive media, deepfakes, and synthetic disinformation. He urged officers to continuously hone technical competencies, stay rooted in grassroots realities, and remain prepared to shoulder multifaceted governance responsibilities.
He particularly reminded the officers to maintain a people-centric ethos, stating that the ultimate benchmark of public communication must always be whether it meaningfully aids the most vulnerable sections of society.
Fostering Deep Understanding, Not Mere Dissemination
Delivering her address, Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor of IIMC, highlighted that public communication is fundamentally about cultivating shared understanding rather than merely pushing data. She noted that the conferment of the MA in Public Communication & Governance reflects the strengthened academic standing of IIMC and equips officers with analytical depth, ethical objectivity, and responsiveness.
“Effective communication demands clarity, objectivity, and empathy. The award of this postgraduate degree stands as an enduring call for continuous professional upskilling in an ever-transforming global media environment.”
Distinguished Presence
The valedictory event was attended by top leadership and distinguished dignitaries from the administrative and academic realms, including:
- Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
- Shri K. K. Nirala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
- Shri L. Madhu Nag, Director General (Training)
- Senior officers of the Ministry, eminent faculty members, and proud families of the graduating officer trainees.
The introduction of the structured MA degree programme marks a transformative phase for IIS training, ensuring that India’s public information machinery remains modern, agile, and firmly anchored to public accountability.
