LG Sinha Calls for Ethical, Inclusive Leadership to Strengthen India’s Democracy
MUMBAI, August 8, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed the convocation of the 9th batch and the induction ceremony of the 10th batch of the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), an initiative of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai, and called upon young leaders to uphold constitutional values, integrity, accountability and public service.
Congratulating the graduating students and welcoming the new batch, the Lieutenant Governor described the occasion as the convergence of two important journeys—one reaching completion and another beginning with fresh aspirations and responsibilities.
He said IIDL has an important role in preparing young leaders with constitutional values, discipline, knowledge and wisdom. Recalling the contribution of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini since its establishment in 1982, he said the institution has made significant contributions to leadership training and capacity building, with more than 60,000 parliamentarians, legislators, panchayat representatives, entrepreneurs and youth trained over the years.
The Lieutenant Governor said India’s future leadership must be prepared to address seven major challenges: sustaining long-term economic growth; eliminating terrorism, separatism and divisive forces; ensuring transparent, accountable and technology-driven governance; promoting merit-based opportunities in politics; strengthening national integration; achieving global leadership in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors; and building a world-class education system based on quality, research, innovation and skills.
He stressed that addressing these challenges would require the collective commitment of citizens, particularly the youth, to build a prosperous, united and globally competitive India.
Emphasising the importance of ethics in public life, Shri Sinha said leadership is fundamentally about responsibility, humility and service. He highlighted the Institute’s motto, “Lokahitam Mam Karaniyam”—“Welfare of the people is my duty”—as an important guiding principle for future leaders.
“Leadership means understanding people, creating new paths for them, and serving them with humility and honesty,” the Lieutenant Governor said, while appreciating the faculty and mentors for preparing young leaders through rigorous learning, policy discussions and exposure to the challenges of public life.
He outlined four essential principles of democratic leadership: honesty and transparency as the foundation of trust; knowledge and wisdom as the compass for decision-making; sensitivity to maintain balance in democracy; and public service as the highest duty of leadership.
The Lieutenant Governor said the strength of democracy rests on constitutional values, institutions and leaders committed to honesty, humility and public service. He cautioned that even strong institutions can weaken without ethical leadership, while honest and accountable leadership can transform ordinary institutions into powerful instruments of change and nation-building.
Referring to India’s demographic strength, Shri Sinha noted that more than 65 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 35. He urged the youth to convert this demographic dividend into a “leadership dividend” by building teams, empowering others and developing roadmaps for inclusive growth.
Citing Jammu and Kashmir as an example of governance-led transformation, he highlighted the completion of more than 30,000 projects through public participation, strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions and expansion of digital governance. He said these initiatives demonstrate how transparency, accountability and public participation can bring about meaningful change.
Addressing the graduating students, the Lieutenant Governor urged them to make ethics their character, public service their duty, responsibility their identity and excellence their work ethic.
He said their success should not be measured merely by their positions, but by the number of lives they transform, the trust they earn and the positive impact they create in society.
Calling upon young leaders to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat, Shri Sinha urged them to ensure that development reaches the last person in the queue.
He further called for a balance between tradition and modernity, and between progress and sensitivity, to build an inclusive, innovative and prosperous India capable of providing leadership to the world.
“Every decision you make, every word you speak, and every action you take will either strengthen our democracy or weaken it. Therefore, let us choose with care and put the national interest first,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that young leadership should be driven by innovation, enabled by technology, strengthened by transparency, guided by sensitivity and focused on effective implementation. Such leadership, he said, would strengthen good governance, deepen public trust and take the country to new heights.
He also urged the young leaders to rise above caste, religion and regional boundaries, stressing that true leadership brings people together and places public welfare at the centre of governance.
“The greatest strength of democracy is the trust of the people, and trust is built through dialogue, consensus and inclusion,” Shri Sinha said. ANB
