New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 17th Civil Services Day on Monday, called on India’s civil servants to evolve into dynamic agents of change who are technologically equipped, globally aware, and deeply rooted in citizen-centric governance. Emphasizing the need to remain relevant in an era of rapid transformation, PM Modi urged the bureaucracy to “create its own standards” and adapt to emerging global and domestic challenges.
“The civil services must now adapt themselves to contemporary challenges — only then can they remain relevant. We must regularly set new benchmarks and strive not just to meet them, but to exceed them,” PM Modi said.
He underscored that civil servants of the future must go beyond traditional administrative roles and become informed navigators of a complex, interconnected world, mastering fields like artificial intelligence, quantum physics, and understanding the geopolitical impacts of global conflicts.
Technology as the New Governance Catalyst
Highlighting the role of disruptive technologies, the Prime Minister said, “In the age of technology, governance is not about managing systems — it is about multiplying possibilities.”
He urged officers to become proficient in tech-driven and data-backed decision-making, using tools like AI to enhance policy design, service delivery, and transparency. “A technology revolution beyond the digital era is on the horizon. The civil service must prepare itself — and the nation — for this future.”
Bridging Domestic Policy with Global Realities
PM Modi also stressed the need for civil servants to understand the interconnection between domestic policies and external affairs. Referencing global conflicts, climate change, and energy insecurity, he noted how such disruptions are increasingly affecting local realities, especially in the Global South.
“We must develop resilient, local-level strategies that can withstand global disruptions — whether they relate to food and water security, pandemics, or cyber threats,” he said, encouraging a proactive, future-ready governance model.
Setting a New Benchmark for Civil Services
Calling for a shift from traditional comparisons with predecessors, PM Modi encouraged civil servants to set their own standards of excellence. “This is not the time to measure yourself by the past. You must lead by creating your own standards,” he said.
Reinventing Governance through ‘Mission Karmayogi’
Echoing the Prime Minister’s message, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan emphasized the need for introspection in the civil service, citing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of an empowered and ethical bureaucracy. He highlighted the success of Mission Karmayogi, India’s largest civil service capacity-building initiative, designed to instil a deeper “seva bhav” (spirit of service).
“This is not just a day of celebration but one of honest reflection,” Somanathan said, adding that while over 1,588 applications from 700 districts were received for the Prime Minister’s Awards this year, only 16 were selected — a testament to the rising standards and accountability within the system.
As India positions itself on the global stage, the message from Civil Services Day 2024 was clear: the civil service must lead the nation with agility, foresight, and a citizen-first mindset.
