Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Public Communication Must Evolve With Technology, Says I&B Secretary
Chanchal Kumar said government communication is an important part of governing.
He said officials must keep up with new technologies and communication platforms.
Communication should work both ways, so citizens can share feedback with the government.
Messages should be fast, but they must also be accurate and trustworthy.
Artificial intelligence can be useful, but it can also help spread misinformation and deepfakes.
Kumar told officers to keep learning and stay connected with people in the field.
The officers also learned that their work helps connect the government with citizens.
The ceremony marked the first time the Indian Institute of Mass Communication awarded postgraduate degrees to these officer trainees.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar called public communication an integral part of governance.
He said communication must adapt to changing technologies and platforms while remaining accurate and credible.
Kumar stressed that citizen feedback should help improve policies and their implementation.
He warned that misinformation, deepfakes and synthetically generated content pose new challenges as AI expands.
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication awarded postgraduate degrees to Indian Information Service trainees for the first time.
- Who
- Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar addressed Indian Information Service officer trainees; Indian Institute of Mass Communication Vice Chancellor Pragya Paliwal Gaur also spoke.
- What
- Officials discussed the role of public communication in governance, emerging technology challenges and the graduation of Group A Indian Information Service trainees.
- When
- Tuesday, September 1; the year was not specified in the report.
- Where
- The Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi.
- Why
- To mark the valedictory function and graduation ceremony and highlight how public communication can build trust and improve governance.
- Speaker
- Chanchal Kumar, Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Trainees
- Group A officer trainees of the Indian Information Service
- Communication principle
- Public communication should be accurate, credible and responsive to citizen feedback.
- Technology challenges
- Misinformation, deepfakes and synthetically generated content were identified as emerging challenges.
- AI
- Kumar described artificial intelligence as a gamechanger.
- Academic milestone
- The Indian Institute of Mass Communication conferred postgraduate degrees on Indian Information Service officer trainees for the first time.
- Institutional change
- The ceremony followed IIMC becoming a deemed-to-be university.