Patna: Six probationary officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) visited the Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education in Bihar on Tuesday as part of their induction training programme, engaging with senior ministers and officials on diplomacy, education and global collaboration.
The officers paid a courtesy call on the minister for science, technology and technical education, Sunil Kumar, and the departmental secretary, Dr Pratima. Welcoming the delegation, the minister spoke about India’s position in a rapidly changing global order, touching on emerging geopolitical developments and contemporary international challenges. The contribution of the Bihari diaspora on the global stage was also discussed during the interaction.
Sunil Kumar highlighted the department’s ongoing efforts to make technical education in the state more employment-oriented. He said the focus was on demand-driven and market-led courses, with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies being integrated into the regular curriculum to improve students’ global competitiveness. The probationary officers shared their perspectives and observations on the initiatives being undertaken.
Dr Pratima briefed the officers on the functioning, responsibilities and best practices of the department through a detailed presentation. She noted that every district in Bihar now has at least one engineering college and one polytechnic institute. The officers were also informed about the establishment of language laboratories offering training in foreign languages such as French, German and Japanese, aimed at improving access to international opportunities and multinational employers.
The department also outlined its plans to strengthen academic collaborations with foreign universities, underlining the key role that Indian embassies and high commissions would play in facilitating such partnerships. The programme concluded with the minister and the departmental secretary extending their best wishes to the probationary officers as they prepare for future diplomatic assignments.
