I am delighted to be here at the Combined Graduation Parade of Indian Air Force Officer Trainees. I congratulate all the trainees being commissioned into the different branches of the Indian Air Force. My special congratulations to all the award winners and the champion squadron for their excellent performance. I congratulate the trainees from friendly foreign countries. Their participation strengthens relationships between our countries.

It is an honour and privilege to visit Serbia and speak to business leaders of both countries. At the outset, I thank President Aleksandar Vučić for making this event possible.

India and Serbia have had close and friendly relations since the days of Non-Aligned Movement. It is now time to build on this, and strengthen our trade and economic partnership.

I am delighted to be among you here today. I have an old association with the people of Jharkhand and I find their warmth amazing. I am grateful to you all for your warm welcome and for making me feel as if I am back at home once again.

Om Namah Shivay! I bow to all that is ‘shiva’, which means ‘shubha’, all that is auspicious, gracious, benevolent in this universe.

I feel specially blessed today. Earlier in the day, I had the good fortune of having Darshan of Meenakshi Amman. I prayed before the Mother Goddess for the well-being of all.

I am happy to be here with you today. I am glad to see young scientists, especially women, among you. You have gathered here to participate in the Second Indian Rice Congress, which will, over these four days, discuss a variety of topics related to this important grain.

Dear officers of Indian Civil Accounts Service

First of all, I would like to congratulate you all for joining prestigious Indian Civil Accounts Service. You will be playing an instrumental role in the financial administration of the country. Civil Servants are expected to maintain highest standards of ethics and proficiency. As young Civil Servants you are expected to strive for excellence in public governance and uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution.

It gives me immense pleasure to be among you at National Academy of Audit and Accounts, the institution that nurtures the country’s sentinels of financial propriety. You are also responsible for sound financial management of the institutions under your purview. I congratulate you all for clearing the civil services examination and making it to the prestigious service.