During his meeting with probationers of the Indian Forest Service (2011-13 batch) which comprised two Bhutanese students as well, the President asked the officers to contribute their services through commitment and dedication.
Mukherjee extended a special welcome to the two officers from Bhutan and lauded the efforts of the neighbouring country in maintaining a balance between environment and development, President's Press Secretary Venu Rajamony said in a statement.
The President congratulated the Probationers on their success in the competitive examinations and gave them a brief overview of the Indian Forest Service which was established in 1867 and is one of the oldest services in the country.
The President said political developments of the 1930s led to constitutional transformation and growing self-governance in India and forests were transferred to provinces as their subject.
The new Constitution in 1950 retained it as a State subject and subsequently through an amendment it was brought into the concurrent list, the President said.