The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) marked a significant milestone with the Valedictory Function and Graduation Ceremony of Group A Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service (IIS) belonging to the 2009, 2023 and 2024 batches.
The event brought together senior officials, faculty members and IIS trainees to celebrate the successful completion of their professional and academic training. The ceremony also marked a landmark moment for IIMC, as the institute awarded postgraduate degrees to IIS Trainees for the first time after receiving the status of a Deemed to be University.
The graduating officers received the Master of Arts (MA) in Public Communication & Governance after fulfilling the prescribed academic and professional requirements.
IIMC Strengthens Academic Foundation of IIS Training
The introduction of the MA programme represents an important development in the professional preparation of Indian Information Service officers. The course seeks to combine academic learning with the practical demands of public communication and governance.
The programme focuses on areas including communication, media and governance, equipping officers with knowledge that can help them respond to the rapidly changing information environment.
With government communication increasingly moving across digital platforms, social media and technology-driven channels, the integration of academic training with professional experience is expected to strengthen the capabilities of IIS.
Chanchal Kumar Highlights Growing AI and Deepfake Threat
Addressing the graduating officers, Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, underlined the changing nature of public communication and the growing responsibilities of information service professionals.
He said public communication is an essential component of governance and must evolve alongside emerging technologies and communication platforms.
Kumar highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, describing it as a gamechanger for the communication ecosystem. At the same time, he cautioned that the rapid advancement of technology is accompanied by serious challenges, particularly misinformation, deepfakes and artificially generated content.
He urged the bureaucrats to remain technologically aware and develop the ability to distinguish credible information from manipulated or misleading material.
Accuracy and Credibility Must Remain at the Core
The I&B Secretary stressed that government communication cannot focus solely on speed. While rapid dissemination of information is increasingly important, he said accuracy and credibility must remain fundamental principles.
Every message issued by a government institution carries the authority and credibility of that institution, making accuracy particularly important for public communication bureaucrats
He also emphasised the importance of making communication a two-way process. Instead of merely delivering information to citizens, government agencies should listen to public feedback and use those insights to improve policies and their implementation.
Officers Asked to Keep Citizens at the Centre
Kumar advised the newly trained IIS officers to continuously upgrade their professional skills and remain connected with developments at the grassroots level.
He said their responsibilities may extend beyond communication, requiring them to understand broader aspects of governance when they are entrusted with additional administrative roles.
The Secretary particularly stressed the need for a citizen-centric approach. Officers should regularly ask whether their communication and professional efforts are genuinely helping people, especially those belonging to the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society.
If an approach does not adequately respond to people’s concerns, officers should be willing to reassess their strategies, make necessary changes and develop more effective solutions.
He also called for compassion in dealing with citizens’ concerns, emphasising that effective public service requires officers to understand people’s needs and work towards addressing them.
IIMC Vice-Chancellor Calls Communication a Tool for Understanding
Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice-Chancellor of IIMC, congratulated the Officer Trainees and highlighted the significance of the occasion.
She said the graduating officers were the first IIS Officer Trainees to receive the postgraduate degree from IIMC, reflecting the institute’s expanding academic role and its strong connection with professional communication training.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that communication should not be viewed simply as the transmission of information. Its larger purpose, she said, is to create understanding between institutions and citizens.
She encouraged the officers to approach their professional responsibilities with clarity, objectivity and sensitivity.
Dr. Gaur also underlined the importance of lifelong learning, saying the MA degree should remind the officers that communication is a constantly evolving field. Continuous learning and adaptation will be essential as technologies, platforms and audience behaviour continue to change.
Senior Ministry Officials Attend Graduation Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by several senior officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary; Shri K. K. Nirala, Joint Secretary; and Shri L. Madhu Nag, Director General, Training.
Senior government officers, IIMC faculty members and IIS Officer Trainees were also present at the event.
The graduation marks a new chapter in the partnership between IIMC and the Indian Information Service. By adding a postgraduate academic qualification to professional IIS training, the institute has further strengthened the academic and intellectual dimensions of public communication.
The milestone comes at a time when government communication is undergoing rapid transformation due to artificial intelligence, social media, digital platforms and the growing challenge of misinformation.
For the newly graduated IIS bureaucrats, the occasion represents not only the completion of their training but also the beginning of a wider responsibility—to communicate accurately, build public trust, understand citizens’ concerns and ensure that technology serves the broader goals of transparent and citizen-focused governance.
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