President Droupadi Murmu addressed probationers of the Indian Forest Service at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on July 17, 2026, emphasizing the critical role of forest officers as custodians of India's natural heritage. She stated that forests are central to addressing global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, and their work contributes to both India's environmental security and global sustainable development efforts.
The President advised officers to focus on increasing forest cover as forests are the foundation of life on Earth, while harmonizing ecological protection with the legitimate aspirations of people living in and around forests. She specifically urged officers to work towards solutions where both nature and communities can thrive together, encouraging people's participation in conservation, restoration, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Murmu emphasized that understanding the views and concerns of tribal communities, forest dwellers, women, farmers, and local institutions would provide valuable insights, noting that when communities are stakeholders in protecting forests, conservation efforts become more effective and long-lasting. She connected ecological security to the national goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, expressing confidence that forest officers would play a defining role in ensuring India's progress remains green, inclusive, and sustainable.
The probationers from two batches (2024 and 2025) are undergoing professional training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy in Dehradun. The 2024 batch comprises 111 officer trainees, while the 2025 batch has 131 officer trainees, including two officer trainees from Bhutan in each batch, making a total of four international trainees.