New Delhi [India], April 21: Addressing the 17th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged civil servants to adopt the guiding principle of ‘Naagrik Devo Bhava’ — treating citizens with the same reverence as guests — and to prioritize the welfare of the poor and last-mile delivery in governance.
“We must never forget the power of human judgment, even in a tech-driven world. The pain of the poor must be heard and addressed. Just like we say Atithi Devo Bhava, we must now walk the path of Naagrik Devo Bhava. You are not just civil servants but architects of a Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi said.
Emphasizing the transformative changes of the past decade, the Prime Minister noted that India is now laying the foundation for its 2047 development goals — aiming for a fully developed nation by its centenary of independence. However, he acknowledged the challenges of scale, with India now being the most populous country, and called for saturation of basic amenities and adaptation of civil services to modern demands.
“The time for comparing past performances is over. Now, we must set new benchmarks, chart our own course, and measure how far we are from the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he said.
Highlighting India’s growing global stature, PM Modi reflected on the inclusive scale of the G20 Presidency, which saw over 200 meetings in 60+ cities, as a symbol of India’s governance innovation and leadership.
He also pointed to the success of Mission Manufacturing, attributing its momentum to MSMEs, startups, and young entrepreneurs, and emphasized the need to make them globally competitive. “Their competition isn’t just local; it’s with the world. We must prepare them for global challenges,” he added.
PM Modi earlier launched two e-Coffee Table Books:
- Holistic Development of Districts for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
- Select Innovations from Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
He also conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to districts and government bodies for impactful implementation of priority programmes and innovative governance.
Civil Services Day, commemorated on April 21, marks the historic address of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to India’s first batch of civil service officers in 1947, where he called them the “Steel Frame of India.”