Be mindful of social media posts, reject gifts: Guidelines for soon-to-be civil servants

New Delhi | All recently selected civil service candidates have to be mindful that their social media posts reflect on the service and they reject all forms of inducement such as gifts, hospitality, and free publicity, official guidelines issued on Friday stipulated.

Civil servants are the public face of the state and their conduct is under constant public scrutiny, it said.

"You must ensure that your personal conduct and official and social interface with the general public, people's representatives, corporate entities, civil society organisations, government personnel, all other dignitaries and vulnerable sections of the society is courteous, respectful, dignified and appropriate," read the guidelines issued by Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), a premier training institute for the civil servants.

The guidelines are meant for the candidates selected through the civil services examination 2024, the results of which were announced on Tuesday. As many as 1,009 candidates cleared that exam.

"As a future civil servant you are expected to be a role model throughout. Your past actions also will be a reflection of your character and personality throughout your career. You should start displaying exemplary conduct that befits an officer right from this day and not wait for your training to start. You will go on to occupy important positions in institutions of governance and public service delivery," it said.

Comments and any posts made or facilitated "by you on social media will also reflect on the service," the guidelines said.

"Therefore, you should remain mindful, even at this stage, of avoiding posts that would or could defame the service or its members. Be diligent and judicious about posting content that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate for an officer/member of service," it said.

One should, in particular, refrain from impulsively posting statements on social media, the guidelines said.

"Pause and reflect on the possible impact of what you are going to post. Rather, it is advisable to avoid posting any content lest it may lead to misinterpretation at an individual/institutional level," it added.

The motto of the academy, 'Sheelam Param Bhushanam,' - Character is the supreme embellishment — guides the officers and alumni to conduct themselves with integrity, dignity, humility and rectitude at all times, the guidelines said, adding that their "inner conscience is the best way to go forward" and that these dos and donts "can be a good start."

"The credibility of an officer is decided by his/her integrity, a timeless virtue. It is important to keep a diligent account of financial issues and reject all forms of inducement such as gifts and hospitality and free publicity. In this context care has to be taken that your success is not leveraged inappropriately at any stage hereon," it said.

The academy said that respect to women is central in Indian ethos and the bureaucrats must be gender-sensitive.

"You are expected to display the highest attitude of compassion, respectful engagement and fraternal behavior while expressing your viewpoint without hurting the sentiments of others. Courteous and dignified behavior is expected not just within the academy but also outside the academy while dealing with the public at large," the guidelines said.

According to it, the soon-to-be bureaucrats are expected to follow civic manners like following traffic rules, not littering, spitting in public spaces, and follow personal hygiene like turning out well-groomed and dressed appropriately.

The guidelines, issued by the LBSNAA Director Sriram Taranikanti, said the candidates are expected to abstain from consuming any intoxicant substances in public.

"It is essential to know clearly the conduct rules and instructions in this regard," it added.

The candidates have also been advised to maintain punctuality.

"Respecting the time of others is very crucial. Do not cause any inconvenience to others in whatsoever manner," the document said.

The academy said it is also good to familiarise the immediate family members with the cultural norms of the service.

"Care should be taken to maintain high levels of morality in your personal lives also. Sober, modest, culturally appropriate clothes befitting the occasion (formal, informal, traditional etc) should always be preferred," the guidelines said.

The academy said that in its curriculum, it promotes the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for improving the speed and quality of services delivered to the people.

"In this context the academy also encourages the ethical and productive use of technology and gadgets by the probationers for accessing and processing the information for effective learning outcomes.

"While social media may pervade several aspects of life, and the academy too recognises the value of social media and digital platforms in effective administration at an institutional level, any kind of social media that promotes self is strongly discouraged," it added.

The academy said that a healthy lifestyle is an added asset to public service.

As the academy follows a rigorous training schedule that comprises physical activity along with academic inputs, the guidelines said, "It is useful to imbibe these aspects from now onwards."