Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 17th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, emphasizing the crucial role of civil servants in shaping India’s future. He highlighted that current policies and decisions would influence the trajectory of the nation for the next thousand years. Focusing on India’s aspirational society—youth, farmers, and women—he noted their soaring dreams and stressed the need for extraordinary speed to meet these aspirations. According to PM Modi, true progress involves significant advancements like providing clean water, quality education, and digital economy access, thus ensuring holistic development. He stated that the quality of governance is assessed by how deeply schemes affect people’s lives. Over the last decade, India has transitioned from incremental changes to transformative impacts, setting new standards in governance and innovation. The Prime Minister praised the public engagement during India’s G20 presidency, noting that India is not merely participating but leading on the global stage. He asserted that modern governance hinges on maximizing possibilities through technology. Finally, he emphasized the importance of enhancing civil servants’ capabilities to build a future-ready civil service, underscoring initiatives like Mission Karmayogi and the Civil Service Capacity Building Programme. Modi concluded by commemorating the significance of this year’s Civil Services Day, linking it to the 75th anniversary of the Constitution and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy.
In his reflection on the need to strengthen India’s foundational future, PM Modi highlighted that 25 years have already passed in this millennium, emphasizing that current policies and decisions will shape the next thousand years. He quoted ancient scriptures to underline the significance of collective effort in achieving a developed India, urging everyone to work relentlessly towards this shared vision.
Acknowledging rapid global changes, Modi noted how the evolving landscape affects family interactions and the swift advancement of technology. He stressed that India’s bureaucracy and policymaking must evolve from outdated frameworks, pointing to significant transformations since 2014 as crucial in adapting to these fast-paced changes. Modi identified the aspirations of society, youth, farmers, and women, emphasizing the necessity for extraordinary speed in fulfilling their dreams.
He outlined ambitious goals for India’s future, including energy security, clean energy, advancements in sports, and achievements in space exploration, calling for the nation to elevate its standing across sectors. Highlighting the critical responsibility of civil servants in making India the world’s third-largest economy, he urged them to eliminate delays in achieving this objective.
PM Modi expressed satisfaction with the theme of this year’s Civil Services Day, ‘Holistic Development of India’, framing it as a commitment to ensuring no citizen or village is left behind. He envisioned impactful governance through initiatives like clean water, quality education, and financial access, praising the progress made in various districts.
Over the past decade, India has transformed its governance model, moving from incremental change to impactful reform, with a focus on innovative practices and technology to connect citizens and government. The Prime Minister highlighted the significant successes of Aspirational Districts and Blocks, which have shown remarkable progress within just two years of their launch in January 2023, addressing health, nutrition, social development, and infrastructure. For instance, in Rajasthan’s Peeplu Block, the measurement efficiency for children in Anganwadi centers rose from 20% to over 99%, while Bihar’s Jagdishpur Block saw a surge in early pregnancy registrations from 25% to over 90%. Additional examples included Jammu & Kashmir’s Marwah Block achieving a 100% rate of institutional deliveries and Jharkhand’s Gurdih Block increasing tap water connections from 18% to 100%. These changes exemplify the government’s commitment to last-mile delivery.
PM Modi also pointed to India’s G20 Presidency, where over 200 meetings were conducted across more than 60 cities, showcasing public participation and leadership. Emphasizing India’s advancements in government efficiency, he mentioned the removal of over 40,000 compliances and decriminalization of more than 3,400 legal provisions, ultimately improving the Ease of Doing Business Rankings. He encouraged seizing the current investment enthusiasm by reducing bureaucracy at all governance levels.
PM Modi stated that the achievements of the past decade have provided a robust foundation for developing India. He emphasized that the country is now embarking on the ambitious journey of building a developed nation upon this strong base while recognizing the considerable challenges that lie ahead. With India emerging as the world’s most populous country, he highlighted the necessity for prioritizing the saturation of basic amenities to address the needs of its citizens effectively. Shri Modi called for a heightened focus on last-mile delivery to ensure that development is inclusive and reaches every corner of society. He acknowledged the changing aspirations of the populace, advocating for the Civil Service to evolve in response to modern challenges to maintain its relevance. Moreover, he stressed the importance of establishing new benchmarks for progress, urging the nation to move beyond previous standards and strive for greater achievements. In summary, Shri Modi’s vision encompasses a holistic approach to development, urging collaboration and a forward-thinking mindset to create an advanced and inclusive India while overcoming present obstacles.