UPSC At 100: PM Modi Says ‘Nation First, Citizen First’ Must Guide Recruitment, Calls For Reforms | Education and Career News
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UPSC Completes 100 Years: The Prime Minister said India in 2047 will be different from the India of today, with changing expectations from citizens and young people.
PM Modi launched a commemorative postage stamp and coin marking the UPSC’s 100-year journey. (Image: PTI file)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to continuously reform its examination and recruitment processes, saying that examinations are directly linked to the future of young aspirants and that delays can create difficulties for them.
Addressing the UPSC’s centenary celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, Modi said examination bodies must keep pace with the country’s changing needs and follow the principle of “time certainty”.
“The country is moving rapidly on the Reform Express. So, the institutions that conduct examinations must also work on reforms that are the need of the country. An examination should not be considered just an event. It is related to the future of our youth. A delay of even a few months can create difficulties for the youth. Therefore, the examination system should follow the principle of time certainty,” he said.
UPSC At 100
Modi said the centenary marks 100 years of the UPSC and celebrates the trust that generations of young Indians have placed in the institution.
“Generations changed, governments changed, technology changed, and syllabi changed…yet, the trust in UPSC remains as unshakeable as ever,” he said.
He said the next 20 to 25 years will be crucial for India as the country works towards becoming a developed nation. The youth recruited through the UPSC and State Public Service Commissions will play an important role in this process, he added.
‘Nation First, Citizen First’
Modi said recruitment should be guided by two benchmarks — “Nation First” and “Citizen First” — and that every selection should be assessed against these principles.
He also called for recruitment examinations to look beyond academic knowledge and assess why candidates want to enter the civil services.
“We need to bring young people into public service who are attracted to public service, not just the public office. Hence, it is essential that the recruitment exam does not merely assess how much a candidate knows, but also looks into why the youth wants to join the civil services,” he said.
AI Is Changing Citizens’ Expectations
The Prime Minister said India in 2047 will be very different from the country today, with changing aspirations and expectations, particularly among young people.
He said technological advances, including artificial intelligence, are also changing what citizens expect from government services.
“When AI can process thousands of documents in just a few moments, and when governments have real-time data available, citizens expect swift solutions. This changing mindset demands a new transformation from our civil services as well,” he said.
He called for a citizen-centric approach to governance, saying the work culture of 21st-century India should be “Pro-People, Proactive, Good Governance.”
He also called for civil servants who can combine empathy, innovation and effective implementation.
More Youth From Villages, Small Towns Joining Services
Modi said access to public services has expanded beyond major cities and affluent families, with increasing participation from villages, small towns and women.
“When UPSC was established, opportunities were mostly accessible to youth from big cities, affluent families, and top institutions. But today, youth from villages and small towns are also reaching public services. The participation of our daughters is also continuously increasing,” he said.
According to Modi, women accounted for around 3% of civil services candidates in 1952, compared with more than 30% today.
He also said the number of UPSC exam takers has increased more than 45 times since 1976, when the Commission completed 50 years.
Modi said the UPSC’s responsibility goes beyond selecting candidates. “You are not just selecting a candidate; you are selecting a person who will go on to become a representative of the government. At the ground level, people will consider that person as the government itself. Therefore, all of you carry an immense responsibility to select the right person,” he said.
He also stressed that the UPSC must preserve its core principles of independence, impartiality, merit, confidentiality and fairness as it enters its second century.
UPSC Centenary Celebrations
The Prime Minister launched a commemorative postage stamp and coin marking the UPSC’s 100-year journey.
The two-day centenary celebrations, titled ‘Manthan’, bring together senior public officials and experts to discuss the changing role of civil services, public administration, technology and institutional reforms.
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Ask News18PM Modi emphasized that recruitment must be guided by the benchmarks of ‘Nation First’ and ‘Citizen First’, ensuring that selections assess why candidates want to join civil services rather than just testing academic knowledge. He also stressed building a work culture that is ‘Pro-People, Proactive, Good Governance’ to meet changing citizen expectations.
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October 02, 2026, 08:42 IST
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