On April 21, PM Modi while addressing the 17th Civil Services Day event at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, asserted that in the past decade, India has undergone transformative changes, PM Modi asked the civil servants to follow the ‘Naagrik Devo Bhava’ mantra.
“We should always remember one thing: no matter how technology-driven the world becomes, we should never forget the importance of human judgments. Listen to the voice of the poor and hear their pain. You solve their problems; it should be your first priority. Jaise ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ hota hai, vaise hi ‘Naagrik Devo Bhava’ ke mantra ko le kr ke chalna hai. You have to prepare yourself for your duty not only as civil servants of India but also as architects of Viksit Bharat,” said PM.
PM Modi said that today, the country is beginning to build the grand vision of a Viksit Bharat on a strong foundation.
“However, there is no shortage of challenges in this journey. India has now become the most populous country in the world. In this context, achieving saturation of basic amenities must be our top priority. A strong focus on last-mile delivery is essential. As the needs and aspirations of citizens evolve rapidly, civil services must also adapt to contemporary challenges,” he said.
He said that the foundation laid over the past decade has greatly strengthened the path towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
“We cannot evaluate our work or performance by comparing it to previous governments…We must set our own benchmarks. We need to measure how far we still are from the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’. The time for tallying up what we have achieved so far is over,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister touched upon India’s global leadership and highlighted the scale of its presidency at the G20.
“We are no longer just focused on growth, but on setting benchmarks in governance, transparency, and innovation. Our G20 Presidency is a strong example of this. Over 200 meetings were held across more than 60 cities, an unprecedentedly inclusive footprint that has never been seen before in the history of the G20. This reflects our truly holistic approach,” he added.
In the past decade, India has undergone transformative changes. We are no longer just focused on growth, but on setting benchmarks in governance, transparency, and innovation. Our G20 Presidency is a strong example of this.
Over 200 meetings were held across more than 60… pic.twitter.com/yh3vIKRfIi
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 21, 2025
The Prime Minister said that they have launched the Mission Manufacturing, and its success can be largely attributed to MSMEs.
“Today, MSMEs, startups and young entrepreneurs have unprecedented opportunities. Therefore, ensuring competitiveness in the global supply chain is crucial. Their competition is not just with small entrepreneurs but with the entire world,” he asserted.
We have launched the Mission Manufacturing, and its success can be largely attributed to MSMEs. Today, MSMEs, startups and young entrepreneurs have unprecedented opportunities.
Therefore, ensuring competitiveness in the global supply chain is crucial. Their competition is not… pic.twitter.com/QRQF0s3gKO
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 21, 2025
Further, asserting that the bureaucracy and policy-making cannot operate on outdated systems, PM Modi, said that the real progress is not about small changes, but about large-scale, meaningful impact.
Moreover, PM Modi extended his best wishes on the Civil Services Day.
“I extend my best wishes on the Civil Services Day…This year’s Civil Services Day is very special for many reasons. This year, we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of our Constitution. It is also the year of the 150th anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel…A civil servant who considers the service of the nation as their highest duty, who democratically runs the administration, and is filled with honesty, discipline, and dedication, working day and night for the nation’s goals…today when we are moving forward towards making Viksit Bharat, theses words of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel becomes more significant,” PM Modi said.
इस बार का Civil Service Day कई वजहों से बहुत विशेष है।
इस साल हम अपने संविधान का 75वां वर्ष मना रहे हैं और ये सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल जी की 150वीं जयंती के भी साल है।
– पीएम @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/ezuPChIPuM
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 21, 2025
He further said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel set new limits for the bureaucracy of independent India.
“On April 21, 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel called all of you the ‘Steel Frame of India’. He set new limits for the bureaucracy of independent India. A civil servant who considers serving the nation as his best duty, who democratically runs the administration, who is full of honesty, discipline and dedication,” he added.
PM Modi said that the policies they are working on will shape the future of the next thousand years.
“Some time ago, from the Red Fort, I said that today’s India must strengthen the foundation for the next thousand years. We have passed the first twenty-five years of the thousand-year span. This is the twenty-fifth year of this new century and also the twenty-fifth year of the new millennium. The policies we are working on today, the decisions we are making, will shape the future of the next thousand years…For achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat, the development wheel has to work accordingly, and we all have to work very minutely for this goal,” he said.
The Prime Minister emphasised that India’s aspirational society — be it the youth, farmers, or women — holds unprecedented dreams and ambitions.
“Today, we are in a world that is changing at a fast pace. Our bureaucracy and policy-making cannot operate on outdated systems. That is why, since 2014, systemic change has been actively pursued. We are transforming ourselves at great speed. India’s aspirational society — be it the youth, farmers, or women — holds unprecedented dreams and ambitions. To fulfil these aspirations, we need an equally unprecedented pace of progress,” PM Modi said.
Today, the country is beginning to build the grand vision of a developed India on a strong foundation. However, there is no shortage of challenges in this journey.
India has now become the most populous country in the world. In this context, achieving saturation of basic… pic.twitter.com/oqDX106cbw
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 21, 2025
He further expressed his happiness that this year’s Civil Services theme is the ‘Holistic development of India’.
“I am happy that this year’s Civil Services theme is the ‘Holistic development of India’. It is not just a theme, it is our commitment to the nation. Holistic development means that no family, citizen, or village is left behind. Real progress is not about small changes, but about large-scale, meaningful impact. Every home must have clean water, and every child must have access to quality education,” he said.
PM Modi said that he believes quality in governance is not achieved merely by launching schemes, but by ensuring how deeply they impact the citizens of the country. “It’s about understanding the real, on-ground effect. We are seeing this impact across various districts, from increased school attendance to the adoption of solar power. Many districts have fulfilled their commitments, and several have been recognised for their efforts,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister further said that they have often discussed aspirational districts, but the success of aspirational blocks is equally important.
“We have often discussed aspirational districts, but the success of aspirational blocks is equally important. This programme was launched in January 2023, and within just two years, unprecedented changes have been seen in key indicators, health, social development, and basic infrastructure. In some places, these blocks have even surpassed the state averages. For example, in the Peeplu block of Tonk, Rajasthan, just two years ago, the measurement efficiency of children was around 20 per cent at Anganwadi Centres. Today, it has risen to over 99 per cent,” he said.
We have often discussed aspirational districts, but the success of aspirational blocks is equally important. This programme was launched in January 2023, and within just two years, unprecedented changes have been seen in key indicators—health, social development, and basic… pic.twitter.com/SgdHEmv98l
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 21, 2025
Mentioning Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, Jagdishpur’s significant improvement, PM Modi said that “Pregnant women registration was at just 25 per cent in the first quarter, and it has now increased to over 90 per cent. Similarly, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Marwah block, institutional deliveries.”
Earlier, PM Modi released e-Coffee Table Books on ‘Holistic Development of Districts for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’ and ‘Select Innovations from Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’.
The Prime Minister also conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration for effective implementation of identified priority programmes and innovation to districts and central and state governments.
Civil Services Day is an occasion for the Civil Servants across India to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in their work. This date was chosen to commemorate the day when Sardar Vallabhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Service Officers in 1947 at Metcalfe House, Delhi.
(with inputs from ANI)
