Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday, 1 June urged the 35 candidates from Gujarat who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 to stay grounded and connected to their origins even as they ascend to the country's most prestigious administrative roles. Speaking at a felicitation ceremony in Gandhinagar, Sanghavi said 'public respect should grow alongside their professional success.'

A Historic Milestone for Gujarat

Sanghavi underscored the scale of the achievement, noting that Gujarat's representation in the UPSC results has transformed dramatically over the years. 'There was a time when it was rare to find even one Gujarati name in the entire UPSC list, but today 35 candidates from Gujarat have cleared the examination,' he said. He added that this figure represents the highest number cleared in a single year by any institution run by a state government.

SPIPA's Role in the Success

The Deputy Chief Minister attributed the surge in successful candidates to sustained investment in the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA). He stated that 'special emphasis had been placed on the institution and necessary reforms introduced during the tenure of then Gujarat Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.' SPIPA Director General Harit Shukla added that 348 candidates from the institute have cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination to date, and announced plans to open a new SPIPA centre in Gandhinagar with state government support.

What Officials Told the New Officers

Sanghavi urged the candidates to remain humble throughout their careers. 'No matter how much progress you make in life, never forget your roots. A person who remains connected to the ground will never face problems in life,' he said. He also encouraged them to study administrative challenges in sectors of their interest and submit practical recommendations, assuring that the government would consider viable suggestions for future implementation.

SPIPA Managing Director and Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, Anju Sharma, welcomed the new officers as the administration's 'new colleagues.' She cautioned against viewing the UPSC selection as a final destination. 'Many people consider clearing the UPSC examination as the final goal of life, but it is not the end. It is a new beginning,' Sharma said, noting that the candidates would spend the next 30 to 35 years serving the nation. She urged them to act as public servants rather than rulers or regulators, adding that Prime Minister Modi viewed civil servants as 'builders of New India.'

Advice on the Probation Period

Sanghavi described the training period and the subsequent one-year probation as the most critical phase of an officer's career. 'Real social challenges begin after academic studies are completed. Future officers must understand the circumstances of citizens at the grassroots level and work towards finding genuine solutions to their problems,' he said. The remarks reflect a broader emphasis on field-level empathy over procedural compliance — a recurring theme in how Gujarat's administration has framed officer development in recent years.

With SPIPA's track record strengthening and a second centre on the horizon, Gujarat's pipeline of civil service aspirants looks set to grow further in the years ahead.