Patna: Six trainee officers from the 2025 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) have begun a week-long engagement programme with the Government of Bihar, aimed at familiarising future diplomats with the state’s development priorities and global outreach potential.
The programme, running from January 19 to 23, has been organised under the guidance of the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute. It is designed to give the officers first-hand exposure to Bihar’s initiatives in sectors such as trade, technology, tourism, and talent and skill development.
As part of the engagement, the trainee officers met Bihar’s tourism minister, Arun Shankar Prasad, along with senior officials from the departments of tourism and art and culture. The minister welcomed the officers at his office in the main secretariat and briefed them on the state’s tourism policies, schemes and flagship programmes, while wishing them well for their field visits.
The officers taking part in the programme are Aman Patel, Keshav Raj, Vaibhav Kumar, Devika Priyadarshini, Mayank Bhardwaj, and Monu Sharma.
Senior officials, including Pranav Kumar, secretary of the department of art and culture, and Udayan Mishra, director of tourism and special secretary, gave detailed presentations on Bihar’s historical legacy, spiritual centres, traditional arts and expanding tourism infrastructure. They also outlined the state’s strategy to position Bihar more prominently on the global tourism map.
During the programme, the trainees will visit tourist destinations in and around Patna, as well as aspirational districts and One District One Product (ODOP) districts. Officials said the itinerary reflects Bihar’s role in contributing to the broader national vision of a developed India.
State authorities view the visit as an opportunity to showcase Bihar’s development plans to future diplomats who may later represent India abroad, potentially helping to attract international attention, investment and partnerships to the state.
