PM Modi Highlights Crucial Role of Civil Servants in Realising Viksit Bharat on Civil Services Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 17th Civil Services Day celebration on Monday in New Delhi, where he commended the dedication and contribution of India's civil servants and emphasized their pivotal role in achieving the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India).

Speaking at Vigyan Bhawan, PM Modi paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, recalling his iconic 1947 address in which he described civil servants as the "steel frame" of India. “This Civil Services Day holds special significance. We are celebrating 75 years of our Constitution and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On April 21, 1947, he described civil servants as the steel frame of India,” the Prime Minister noted.

Reflecting on Patel’s vision, he said that the ideals of a civil servant — honesty, discipline, democratic spirit, and dedication — are even more relevant today as the country advances towards its goal of Viksit Bharat. He stressed that building a developed nation will require all sectors of progress to work in unison. “Bureaucracy and policymaking cannot function with outdated approaches. Our young generation is growing with rapid technological evolution, and we must match this pace,” he said.

Highlighting key focus areas such as clean energy, sports, and space, PM Modi pointed out the responsibility civil servants bear in supporting India's rise as the world’s third-largest economy. He called for synchronised efforts to meet this goal, urging the administrative machinery to adapt, innovate, and deliver.

This year’s Civil Services Day theme — "Holistic Development of India" — was described by the Prime Minister as a mission where “no village is left behind, no family is left behind.” He underscored that true governance is not about the number of schemes launched, but the tangible impact these schemes have on people’s lives.

During the event, PM Modi presented the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. Among the initiatives recognised were PM Vishwakarma, Poshan Tracker, Siksha Setu Axom, and Sugamya Pustakalaya. He praised districts that have shown innovation and improved service delivery, citing examples such as Bhagalpur in Bihar, where the registration of pregnant women in the Jagdishpur block surged from 25% to over 90%, and Marwah block in Jammu and Kashmir, where institutional deliveries rose from 30% to 100%.

He also touched upon India's growing global leadership, referencing the G20 presidency during which India hosted over 200 meetings across 60 cities — a first in the summit’s history. “This wide, inclusive footprint reflects the holistic approach of modern India,” he said, adding that India is not just participating but leading globally.

The Prime Minister mentioned significant reforms undertaken over the past decade, including the elimination of 40,000 compliance burdens and the decriminalisation of business errors to enhance ease of doing business. He emphasized the need to measure progress against future benchmarks, not past standards.

Highlighting the government’s developmental achievements, he said 4 crore permanent houses have been built for the poor, and now the target is to construct 3 crore more. Tap water has reached 12 crore homes in recent years, and over 11 crore toilets have been built. Now, the focus must shift towards saturation in basic facilities and achieving new waste management targets.

PM Modi concluded by launching two e-books — Holistic Development of Districts and Select Innovations — and honoured top-performing districts including Rajkot (Gujarat), Gomti (Tripura), Tinsukia (Assam), Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir), and Koraput (Odisha). Under the Aspirational Block Programme, blocks like Gamharia (Jharkhand), Parappa (Kerala), Narnoor (Telangana), Ganganagar (Tripura), and Rama (Madhya Pradesh) were also recognised.