The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) hosted the Valedictory Function and Graduation Ceremony for Group A Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service (IIS) from the 2009, 2023, and 2024 batches on September 1, 2026. This ceremony marked the historic milestone of IIMC conferring its first-ever postgraduate degrees on IIS officer trainees since becoming a deemed university.
Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized that public communication is an integral part of governance that must evolve with changing technologies and platforms. He noted that officers must remain aware of emerging technologies, with AI becoming a gamechanger, while also addressing challenges posed by misinformation, deepfakes, and synthetically generated content. He stressed that communication must be a two-way process where citizen feedback helps improve policies and implementation, and while speed is important, accuracy and credibility remain non-negotiable as every communication carries institutional authority.
Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, VC of IIMC, stated that the officer trainees are the first recipients of this postgraduate degree, reflecting the strengthening of IIMC's academic role and its close relationship with professional training in communication. She emphasized that communication is about creating understanding, not just transmitting information, and that officer trainees must approach their responsibilities with clarity, objectivity, and sensitivity. The MA degree serves as a reminder of the importance of continued learning in a constantly evolving field.
The ceremony was attended by Shri Prabhat (Additional Secretary, Ministry of I&B), Shri K. K. Nirala (Joint Secretary, Ministry of I&B), Shri L. Madhu Nag (Director General, Training), along with senior officers, faculty members, and Officer Trainees. This content may not be financially relevant.