At the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, the 78th Regular Recruit batch of IPS probationers was reminded that public service, not public image, should define a police officer’s career. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s message, read out at the Dikshant Parade on October 17, 2026, urged the young officers to stay away from publicity, rely on professional conduct, and prepare for a security environment that is changing in form as well as intensity.
Phase-I training completed by 151 officer trainees
The passing-out parade marked the completion of Phase-I training for 151 officer trainees. The batch included 135 Indian IPS probationers, among them 37 women, and 16 foreign officer trainees from Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. The officers had joined SVPNPA on December 8, 2025, after a 15-week foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, and later completed 45 weeks of Phase-I training.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, a 1989-batch IAS officer, attended as chief guest, reviewed the parade, and addressed the probationers. He also presented awards, including the IPS Association Sword of Honour to Kuhoo Garg (Gujarat cadre), who was recognised as the best outdoor probationer.
Message from Amit Shah: authority as responsibility
In the message delivered on his behalf, Shah said a police officer’s real identity is shaped by conduct, impartiality, dutifulness and public trust, not by rank or popularity. “Young officers should stay away from publicity and focus on results. They should let their work become their identity,” the message said. He also stressed humility, restraint and a firm commitment to the Constitution as the core strengths of a police officer.
Shah called for zero tolerance against terrorism, underlined the importance of national security, and referred to technology and surveillance under the Centre’s Smart Border Initiative. He also asked the officers to take the spirit of the new criminal justice laws to the grassroots and strengthen investigations through modern technology and forensic science.
Internal security trends and new challenges
Govind Mohan told the probationers that India’s earlier internal security picture has changed significantly. According to him, militant Naxalism has largely ended, insurgency in the Northeast has been reduced to very low levels, and in some places what remains is more like ethnic conflict than classical insurgency. He said most former insurgent groups have entered the mainstream through ceasefire and tripartite agreements. He also said homegrown terrorism has largely ended and foreign-inspired terrorism is no longer visible except in limited areas, though recent incidents such as the Red Fort blast show that residual risks remain.
Mohan asked the officers to prepare for newer thematic threats, especially narcotics, cybercrime and illegal immigration. He said social media-related problems, including fake messages, deepfake videos and altered digital realities, could trigger unnecessary mobilisation and law-and-order issues. On cybercrime, he noted the growing use of mule bank accounts and fake SIM cards by low-skilled offenders, while saying that central institutions handle higher-end threats and the main operational burden will fall on police forces in states and Union Territories. He also referred to anonymous crimes such as hit jobs advertised on the dark net and threat calls routed through VPNs from foreign locations.
Focus on narcotics and illegal immigration
On narcotics, Mohan reiterated the idea of a Nasha-Mukt Bharat, or drug-free India, and said the Home Minister has publicly set a target of freeing the country from narcotics abuse within the next three years, in line with the Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap. He stressed stronger action against drug trafficking networks, technology-based investigation, better coordination and public awareness.
On illegal immigration, he said India respects the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, but the primary rights over national resources belong to Indian citizens. He added that illegal foreigners involved in crime, radicalisation or market distortion must be identified and acted against according to law.
Training ahead and operational outlook
The Home Secretary said young officers must develop creative, lawful solutions to emerging threats and use technology, including artificial intelligence networks of young IPS officers, to modernise policing. After the parade, the probationers are scheduled to go to Delhi for attachments with central police organisations and armed forces, followed by district practical training in their cadres.
The ceremony highlighted a shift in India’s internal security priorities from older geographical threats such as Left-wing extremism and Northeast insurgency toward technology-driven, thematic and transnational challenges. The message to the new IPS cohort was clear: remain professional, stay constitutionally grounded, and focus on results rather than publicity.
