New Delhi: The Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) under the Military Engineer Services (MES) marked its 77th Raising Day on September 17 with a conference focused on “Ethics, Accountability and Excellence towards achieving the aim of Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” highlighting the growing importance of transparency and professional integrity in defence infrastructure and public works.
The day-long conference brought together officials and representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Central Vigilance Commission, Defence Accounts Department, National Highways Authority of India and public sector undertakings, providing a cross-government platform to discuss ethical practices, accountability and institutional excellence.
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Addressing the gathering, Engineer-in-Chief, MES, Lieutenant General Vikas Rohella highlighted measures being introduced within the organisation to strengthen ethics and accountability. Among these is the Electronic Measurement Book (e-MB), aimed at improving transparency in the recording and monitoring of government works.
Rohella stressed that ethical principles must guide all stages of public procurement and the exercise of official discretion. This is particularly relevant for an organisation responsible for executing and maintaining a wide range of defence infrastructure, where procurement, construction and project-management decisions involve significant public expenditure.
The conference also examined the role of technology and institutional mechanisms in strengthening accountability. Discussions covered preventive vigilance, digital processes, procurement safeguards and mechanisms to detect and reduce opportunities for corruption in large public infrastructure projects.
The emphasis on digital systems reflects a broader shift in government infrastructure management towards greater traceability and data-based oversight. Electronic documentation and digital monitoring can reduce manual intervention, create clearer audit trails and improve visibility over project execution and payments.
The IDSE forms part of the Military Engineer Services, which provides engineering and infrastructure support to the armed forces. Its responsibilities place the service at the intersection of military requirements, engineering expertise, public works and government procurement.
The conference therefore linked engineering excellence with institutional integrity rather than treating them as separate objectives. The theme of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 placed these reforms within the government's longer-term objective of building more efficient, accountable and technologically enabled public institutions.
The wider MES fraternity, including senior officers of the Corps of Engineers and representatives from cadre groups such as Surveyors, Architects, Barrack and Stores personnel and Administration, participated in the event.
For India's defence infrastructure ecosystem, the focus on ethics and accountability has a direct operational dimension. Timely execution, transparent procurement and effective monitoring of infrastructure projects can contribute to better utilisation of defence resources and more reliable support for military operations.
The 77th Raising Day thus placed the IDSE's engineering role within a broader transformation of defence infrastructure—one increasingly shaped by digitalisation, transparency, professional excellence and accountable public procurement.
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