PM Modi: Bureaucracy, Policy-making Must Evolve Beyond Outdated Systems
New Delhi, April 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 17th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, emphasised the need for India’s bureaucracy and policy-making to shed outdated systems and adapt to a rapidly changing world. He said real progress lies in driving large-scale, meaningful impact rather than minor adjustments.
Extending greetings on Civil Services Day, PM Modi said the occasion holds special significance as it coincides with the 75th year of India’s Constitution and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “A civil servant dedicated to the nation, working with honesty, discipline, and democratic spirit, plays a vital role in achieving the goals of a Viksit Bharat,” he remarked.
Recalling Patel’s famous address in 1947, when he called civil servants the “Steel Frame of India”, Modi highlighted how Patel laid the foundation for a responsive and dedicated bureaucracy.
He noted that India has entered the 25th year of the new millennium, stressing that policies made today will influence the country for the next thousand years. “To achieve the vision of a developed India, we must align our governance and development models accordingly,” he said.
Highlighting the aspirations of youth, farmers, and women, PM Modi pointed out the urgent need for bureaucratic transformation. “Since 2014, systemic reforms have been underway. We’re moving fast, but we must match the unprecedented ambition of our society with equal speed in governance,” he stated.
He praised the theme of this year’s Civil Services Day — ‘Holistic Development of India’ — noting it reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive growth. “True development ensures that no citizen, family, or village is left behind,” he added.
PM Modi stressed that governance quality lies not in launching schemes alone, but in ensuring deep, measurable impact. Citing improvements in education, solar energy adoption, and public health indicators across districts, he noted that many have surpassed expectations.
He also highlighted success stories under the Aspirational Blocks Programme launched in 2023, such as the Peeplu block in Rajasthan improving child measurement efficiency from 20% to over 99%, and a sharp rise in pregnant women registrations in Bihar’s Jagdishpur block.
The PM later released two e-Coffee Table Books showcasing innovations and excellence in public administration and conferred awards to exemplary districts and government bodies for effective implementation of key programmes.
Civil Services Day commemorates Sardar Patel’s iconic 1947 address to IAS probationers, serving as a reminder for civil servants to recommit themselves to citizen-centric governance and excellence.
