Rajnath Singh Urges IDES Officer Trainees to Serve Citizens with Seva Bhav in New Delhi
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on August 17, 2026, met officer trainees of the 2025 batch of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) in New Delhi, using the interaction to stress the importance of citizen-focused governance, public service values and the specialised responsibilities attached to defence estates management.
The trainees are currently undergoing training at the National Institute of Defence Estates Management (NIDEM). Their call on the Defence Minister brought them face to face with the leadership of the Defence Estates Department, which is responsible for managing defence land and overseeing the municipal administration of Cantonment Boards across the country.
During the interaction, Singh underlined that public servants must respond to the changing aspirations and expectations of citizens. He told the officer trainees that they should carry out their duties with utmost “Seva Bhav” and ensure that government services are delivered in a manner that is both people-friendly and responsive.
He also advised the budding officers to maintain regular contact with citizens and listen carefully to their grievances. According to Singh, direct engagement with the public would help officers better understand local concerns, arrive at effective solutions and build trust and assurance among the people they serve.
In addition to administrative values, the Raksha Mantri spoke about the personal well-being of public servants. He urged the trainees to pay equal attention to their physical and mental health and encouraged them to follow a spiritual path and practise meditation as part of maintaining balance and resilience in both professional and personal life.
The interaction gave the trainees an opportunity to hear first-hand from the Defence Minister about the expectations attached to their future roles, particularly in the specialised domain of defence estates management. The Department’s work, which includes the administration of defence land and cantonment areas, places these officers at the intersection of public administration and defence infrastructure management.
Director General Defence Estates Shobha Gupta was present during the meeting.
The meeting reflected the emphasis placed on professional excellence, citizen-centric administration and a strong sense of public service among the next generation of officers who will be responsible for managing defence estates and supporting cantonment administration across India.
