Vice President to Launch Maize Seed and Felicitate Farmers in Andhra Pradesh

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan is set to visit Musunuru in Andhra Pradesh's Eluru district on Monday to launch India's first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed, as reported by both ANI and Lokmat Times. During his visit, he will attend a programme at the Gourmet Popcornica Factory, where he will launch the seed, felicitate farmers, and address agricultural stakeholders and other participants, according to a statement from the Vice President's Secretariat quoted by Lokmat Times.

The visit highlights the government's focus on agricultural innovation and support for farmers. The new hybrid seed, described as India's first non-GMO high-expansion variety, is expected to benefit popcorn producers in the region.

Recent Engagements: Classical Music Festival and Address to IAS Trainees

The Vice President's upcoming visit follows a series of engagements. On August 21, Radhakrishnan inaugurated 'MALHAR 2026', a youth-centric, monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music organized by Antar Hriday Connect in New Delhi, as reported by ANI. At the event, he appreciated the organization for creating opportunities for young people to experience and engage with India's classical music heritage, particularly through free classical music concerts.

He remarked that across Bharat, every region has its own musical traditions, sounds, and styles, yet music remains one of the strongest threads connecting the country. He described India's cultural diversity as "many musical traditions, one shared spirit; many voices, one Bharat."

Earlier last week, the Vice President visited Uttarakhand and addressed young IAS officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, as detailed by Lokmat Times. Speaking at the completion of the Phase-II training of the 2024 batch IAS Officer Trainees, he said that leadership is not measured by power but by the ability to act ethically in difficult situations. He described character and integrity as the foundations of public service and asked officers to make their service meaningful by transforming lives.

Referring to the journey towards 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047', Radhakrishnan urged officers to ensure that development reaches the last mile, emphasizing that every grievance is heard and every citizen is empowered. He called upon them to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, and Blockchain, to improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen service delivery.

The Vice President also emphasized continuous learning, adaptability, and being future-ready. He urged the young officers to strive for team excellence rather than individual or group excellence, stressing the importance of building cohesive teams, motivating colleagues, and carrying forward good practices established by their predecessors. He noted that civil services have made immense contributions to the country's development and remain a vital link between policy and its implementation at the grassroots level.

Outlook

With his upcoming visit to Musunuru, the Vice President continues to engage with both the agricultural community and the broader public service, reinforcing themes of innovation, ethical leadership, and grassroots development. The launch of the non-GMO popcorn maize seed marks a notable step in India's agricultural research, with potential implications for farmers and the food processing industry.