New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the country must bring into public service young people who are drawn not to public office but to public service, and that recruitment examinations should test not just what a candidate knows but also why that candidate wants to join the civil services.
He was addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking 100 years since India's first Public Service Commission was constituted on October 1, 1926.
Two touchstones for aspirants
"Our mantra is... citizen is God. Meaning, the citizen of the country is no less than a deity to us. For us, the service of the citizen is paramount," Mr. Modi said. He added that public servants must remember two touchstones at all times: "One — Nation First. Second — Citizen First."
He said recruitment must look beyond knowledge: "We must bring such youth into public services who are attracted not by public office, but by public service. Therefore, it is essential that the recruitment examination does not just test what the candidate knows, but also sees why that youth wants to come into civil services."
Centenary releases
At the event, the Prime Minister released a commemorative coin, a postage stamp and a book titled '100 Landmark Judgements — Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India', which compiles rulings that have shaped how the UPSC and state commissions function.
Thursday's programme marked the culmination of a year-long commemoration that began on October 1, 2025. The two-day celebration, titled 'Shatabdi Samaroh — Manthan', was held on September 30 and October 1 and brought together chairpersons and members of state public service commissions, senior government officials, academicians and UPSC officials.
In his address, Mr. Modi also flagged the challenges future administrators will face as technology evolves — including deepfakes, algorithmic bias and climate justice — alongside the opportunities the coming era will bring.
Sources:
The Hindu — Must bring youth into public services who are not attracted to public office: PM Modi at UPSC centenary celebrations
NDTV — UPSC Centenary Celebrations: Prime Minister Modi Tells Aspirants And Officers To Put "Nation First, Citizen First"
He was addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking 100 years since India's first Public Service Commission was constituted on October 1, 1926.
Two touchstones for aspirants
"Our mantra is... citizen is God. Meaning, the citizen of the country is no less than a deity to us. For us, the service of the citizen is paramount," Mr. Modi said. He added that public servants must remember two touchstones at all times: "One — Nation First. Second — Citizen First."
He said recruitment must look beyond knowledge: "We must bring such youth into public services who are attracted not by public office, but by public service. Therefore, it is essential that the recruitment examination does not just test what the candidate knows, but also sees why that youth wants to come into civil services."
Centenary releases
At the event, the Prime Minister released a commemorative coin, a postage stamp and a book titled '100 Landmark Judgements — Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India', which compiles rulings that have shaped how the UPSC and state commissions function.
Thursday's programme marked the culmination of a year-long commemoration that began on October 1, 2025. The two-day celebration, titled 'Shatabdi Samaroh — Manthan', was held on September 30 and October 1 and brought together chairpersons and members of state public service commissions, senior government officials, academicians and UPSC officials.
In his address, Mr. Modi also flagged the challenges future administrators will face as technology evolves — including deepfakes, algorithmic bias and climate justice — alongside the opportunities the coming era will bring.
Sources:
The Hindu — Must bring youth into public services who are not attracted to public office: PM Modi at UPSC centenary celebrations
NDTV — UPSC Centenary Celebrations: Prime Minister Modi Tells Aspirants And Officers To Put "Nation First, Citizen First"
