President Droupadi Murmu addressed probationers of the Indian Police Service 78 RR (2025 batch) at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 10, 2026, emphasizing the symbolic role of police officers as representatives of governance. She stated that citizens perceive governance as effective when the police system functions properly, particularly when officers listen to grievances with sensitivity and attentiveness. The President specifically urged IPS officers to prioritize alleviating fears of socially and economically weaker individuals who typically lack access to senior officials.
Murmu advised officer trainees to embrace learning from junior team members who may be more technologically proficient, encouraging public participation and teamwork in their working style. She emphasized that while police officers derive authority from laws and rules, they earn genuine respect through performance and value systems, requiring a commitment to service rather than a sense of superiority.
The President identified emerging serious issues including spreading misinformation to trigger public fear and the vulnerability of impressionable youth to orchestrated disinformation at local, regional, or national levels. She stated that smart policing can prevent such situations from becoming major challenges.
Regarding cyber crimes, Murmu noted they are becoming both more widespread and serious, requiring police to extensively sensitize society about their gravity. She specifically emphasized that police officers must reorient their own approach toward these crimes, highlighting deep-fake content as posing new threats to people. The President stressed the need for police officers to consistently stay ahead of criminals utilizing state-of-the-art technologies.