The road to India's development depends on the progress of the states, President Pranab Mukherjee said Friday.
Addressing a group of state civil service officers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said India was a collection of states which represent separate parts of the country and "India, therefore, means the states".
"The road to our country's development will, therefore, depend on the progress of our states. Yet, they have to have a national vision," said Mukherjee in his address to the officers attending the 115th induction training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.
The president said all states "have the responsibility of strengthening the unity and integrity of our country."
"Unless they are firm in their resolve, our country would not be able to reach its rightful place in the comity of nations."
Mukherjee instructed the officers to respect the federal structure of the country while performing their duties.
"India's federal structure is a basic feature of our constitution... (It) represents unity in diversity. While performing their duties, civil servants would have to respect this aspect."