Dehradun, Aug. 21 -- Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday urged young IAS officers to embrace emerging technologies, continuously upgrade their skills and remain adaptable to meet the changing demands of public administration and citizen service delivery. Addressing the valedictory programme of Phase-II training of IAS officer trainees of the 2024 batch at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Radhakrishnan said the civil services have made immense contributions to the country's development and continue to play a vital role in connecting government policies with their implementation at the grassroots level. Congratulating the officer trainees on successfully completing their training, the Vice President urged them to "ensure that the benefits of development reach the last mile and that growth remains inclusive". He called upon the officers to make "Sevabhav and Kartavyabodh" their guiding principles as they begin their careers in public service. Emphasising the importance of teamwork, Radhakrishnan said the officers should strive for team excellence rather than individual or group excellence. He stressed the "need to build cohesive teams, motivate colleagues and carry forward effective practices established by their predecessors". The Vice President also highlighted the growing representation of women in the civil services, noting that around 41% of the 2024 batch comprises women. He described this as a powerful reflection of Nari Shakti, where talent rises above stereotypes and determination overcomes obstacles. Radhakrishnan stressed that rapid technological advancement would increasingly shape governance and public administration. He called upon the young officers "to make effective use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning and blockchain, to improve administrative efficiency, transparency and citizen service delivery". He also emphasised the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, saying officers must remain future-ready and develop the ability to respond to rapidly changing technological, social and administrative challenges. Stressing that character and integrity are the foundations of public service, Radhakrishnan said true leadership should not be measured by power or position but by the ability to act ethically, particularly in difficult situations. He urged the officer trainees to maintain high standards of integrity and put public interest at the centre of their decisions....