# Governance Has Shifted from Authority to Citizen Devo Bhava, Narendra Modi Declares at UPSC Centenary

> Addressing the centenary celebration of the Union Public Service Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that governance must place citizens above power, urging recruitment bodies to reform and avoid delays.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-10-01 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/upsc-ke-sau-sala-pure-hone-para-bole-pradhanamntri-narendra-modi-aba-hukumata-nahin-balki-nagarika-devo-bhava-ka-daura-hai-41234 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** UPSC, Narendra Modi, Bharat Mandapam, Centenary Celebration, Mission Karmayogi, Civil Services, Administrative Reforms

A two-day centenary conference marking the 100-year milestone of the Union Public Service Commission commenced at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 1, bringing together policymakers and administrators to reflect on its institutional journey and chart its path forward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the historic gathering, highlighting the critical role played by the country's premier recruitment body in nation-building while laying out the principles necessary to align public administration with modern governance demands.

## Acknowledging Valour: The Courage of Captain Smit Machhar
Opening his speech, Narendra Modi drew attention to a recent act of extraordinary bravery, commending Captain Smit Machhar for displaying remarkable poise, presence of mind, and courage during a grave operational crisis. He observed that such resolute action fills the entire country with immense pride. He added that the Prime Minister of Israel had also recognized the feat, remarking that the Indian captain's intervention had averted an incident reminiscent of the 9/11 tragedy, illustrating the decisiveness and character inherent in the nation's youth.

## Reflections on 1920 and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Enduring Legacy
While viewing the historical exhibition at the venue, the Prime Minister noted that Subhas Chandra Bose had cleared the civil services examination under the British colonial administration back in 1920. He pointed out that despite colonial rule, Sanskrit was offered as an examination subject, and Subhas Chandra Bose chose to write his paper in Sanskrit, demonstrating the intellectual depth and cultural anchoring of India's early administrative aspirants.

Paying homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Prime Minister underscored the immense challenges faced immediately after independence. The task before the leadership was not merely safeguarding territorial integrity but steering and running a newly liberated nation through immense structural disruption. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel provided the foundational skill framework needed for national reconstruction, establishing the recruitment commission as a central pillar of sovereign India and institutionalizing its administrative resilience.

## The Dual Pillars of Recruitment: Nation First and Citizen First
Turning to candidate selection, the Prime Minister stated that the young women and men being inducted today will act as the principal architects of a developed nation, while also emerging as its biggest beneficiaries. He urged the commission to evaluate every selection against two non-negotiable benchmarks: Nation First and Citizen First. The civil services must draw individuals motivated by a genuine commitment to public service rather than the superficial trappings of administrative office.

He emphasized that entrance evaluations must move beyond merely testing the volume of academic knowledge an applicant holds. Instead, the assessment should gauge the underlying intent and purpose that drives an aspirant toward public administration. Administrators must possess the empathy required to understand the struggles of marginalized citizens, along with the professional nuance to assess whether specific statutes and regulations genuinely serve the public interest.

## Transitioning from Authority to Citizen Devo Bhava
Contrasting the past with the present, the Prime Minister noted that earlier generations witnessed an era when citizens viewed the administration as an all-powerful patron or authority figure. In stark contrast, modern governance in the twenty-first century is anchored in the conviction of 'Citizen Devo Bhava', positioning the citizen as sovereign and making public welfare the supreme objective. The contemporary governance philosophy operates on proactive, people-centric, and accountable administration.

To support this paradigm, the country needs professionals capable of pioneering innovative remedies for complex societal challenges. Public servants must ensure the strict enforcement of laws while continually evaluating whether regulatory frameworks enhance everyday life for ordinary citizens.

## Capacity Building via Mission Karmayogi and Urgent Exam Reforms
Addressing organizational modernization, the Prime Minister stressed that the Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions must maintain continuous capacity building. He recommended leveraging the iGOT platform, developed under Mission Karmayogi, to train teams and streamline institutional workflows. Because these commissions handle the career trajectories of young citizens, their operations directly fuel the transition from youth power to national power.

Concluding his remarks, he urged testing authorities to align with the country's broader reform trajectory. Examinations must never be treated as isolated administrative exercises, as even a delay of a few months can derail the plans and morale of aspirants. Recruitment systems across the nation must strictly adhere to predictability and firm timelines to protect the future of the nation's youth.

## What this means for you
The emphasis on citizen-centric governance and examination timeliness directly impacts administrative responsiveness for ordinary citizens and career security for government job aspirants.

- **For Civil Services Aspirants:** Mandating strict compliance with testing schedules will reduce chronic examination postponements and procedural bottlenecks. Candidates will benefit from predictable timelines, preventing valuable preparation years from being lost to institutional delays.
- **For Citizens Seeking Public Services:** Shifting the administrative outlook toward public service over authority ensures faster resolution of civic grievances. Ordinary people interacting with administrative offices can expect greater empathy and reduced bureaucratic friction.
- **For Public Scheme Beneficiaries:** Training administrative teams on platforms like iGOT under Mission Karmayogi will improve the ground-level execution of welfare programs. Eligible beneficiaries will experience smoother, more transparent access to government support.
- **For Modern Governance Standards:** Evaluating recruits on their intent and problem-solving capacities rather than rote memorization will elevate administrative competence. Citizens will interact with officials who prioritize public convenience and practical regulatory solutions.

## Why this happened
The event was convened to commemorate the centenary of the Union Public Service Commission and review its evolutionary journey. The platform served to realign civil service recruitment with the governance standards needed for national development.

- **Centenary Milestone:** Marking 100 years of the commission's institutional existence, a two-day conference was organized at Bharat Mandapam starting October 1. The gathering aimed to examine past achievements and devise strategies for upcoming administrative challenges.
- **Evolving Beyond Colonial Administrative Culture:** With national goals demanding participatory and empathetic governance, moving away from old authoritative habits became imperative. This prompted the articulation of people-first principles and public service ethics.
- **Addressing Recruitment Bottlenecks:** Institutional lags in holding exams and declaring results have historically disrupted the ambitions of young candidates. This reality led to the direct directive urging testing agencies to follow strict calendar predictability.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which event did Prime Minister Narendra Modi address?
He addressed the two-day centenary conference of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 1.

### 2. Why was Captain Smit Machhar mentioned in the address?
The Prime Minister praised his courage and tactical composure, referencing the Israeli Prime Minister's remark that his bravery prevented an incident akin to 9/11.

### 3. What historical detail regarding Subhas Chandra Bose was highlighted?
Records showed that Subhas Chandra Bose cleared the entrance examination under British rule in 1920, writing his Sanskrit paper in the Sanskrit language.

### 4. What was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's contribution to the commission?
Sardar Patel built the administrative skill framework necessary for national reconstruction after independence and strengthened the commission as an institutional pillar.

### 5. What two criteria were established for public service recruitment?
The Prime Minister stated that all candidate selections must be evaluated against the criteria of Nation First and Citizen First.

### 6. What principle did Narendra Modi contrast against the traditional authority mindset?
He declared that governance has moved away from an authoritative patron model to the principle of Citizen Devo Bhava and proactive administration.

### 7. Which digital platform was suggested for administrative capacity building?
He recommended utilizing the iGOT platform under Mission Karmayogi to train personnel and boost internal operational efficiency.

### 8. What operational reform was demanded from recruiting institutions?
Examining bodies were directed to strictly follow predictable schedules to prevent testing delays that harm the careers of young candidates.

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