President Droupadi Murmu Urges IPS Probationers to Prioritise Vulnerable Citizens and Earn Public Trust

President Droupadi Murmu urged probationers of the Indian Police Service (IPS) to earn public respect through professional conduct, integrity and personal values, telling them that the authority of their office alone would not secure citizens’ confidence. The 78th Regular Recruit (RR) batch of 2025 called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on November 11, 2026.

Addressing the young officers, Murmu said their powers would derive from the laws and rules governing policing, but the respect they received would depend on how they performed their duties. She also stressed that an IPS officer’s responsibilities go beyond enforcing laws and maintaining public order.

She called for a people-centric approach, with particular care for vulnerable communities. Murmu said socially and economically weaker people may lack the means or opportunities to take their concerns to senior officials, and urged the probationers to give priority to hearing their grievances and easing their fears.

Her message was that policing should remain accessible, responsive and sensitive to every citizen’s needs. Public confidence, ethical conduct and accountability, she indicated, are central to police leadership; the effectiveness of law enforcement depends not only on statutory powers but also on the trust officers build through their actions.

The meeting took place as the probationers prepare for duties that include maintaining law and order, protecting citizens and upholding the rule of law across the country.