Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 October 2026 declared that India has decisively moved away from the era of 'government as sole provider' to a new governance philosophy anchored in 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' — a principle that treats every citizen as a priority. Modi was speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in New Delhi, marking 100 years of the institution that selects India's top civil servants.

Key Remarks at the UPSC Centenary

Acknowledging the UPSC's decades of institutional service, Modi urged the audience to look forward rather than dwell on history. 'We have already discussed this extensively on the stage. Therefore, I neither want to repeat it nor go into its details. Moving beyond history, the future of India now awaits us,' he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the next 20–25 years would be defining ones for India, its people, and its institutions. He framed the UPSC and State Public Service Commissions as central to delivering the governance that a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) demands by 2047.

Two Guiding Principles for Civil Service Selection

Modi laid out two non-negotiable criteria for selecting candidates into public services: 'nation first' and 'citizen first'. 'These are the two principles on which all selections will be made. When candidates are selected on this basis, it will be very easy to achieve our goals,' he said.

He also called for recruitment processes at both the national and state levels to be redesigned around pro-people, proactive, and good governance parameters — with specific sensitivity to the difficulties faced by the poor.

Civil Services Must Keep Pace with Technology and Aspirations

Modi noted that India in 2047 would be far more urban, with a narrowing rural-urban divide and significantly higher aspirations among the youth. Against this backdrop, he argued that civil services must adapt to the pace of modern delivery expectations.

'When AI can process thousands of documents within moments, and when the government has access to real-time data, citizens want quick solutions. This changing mindset also demands new changes from our civil services,' he said. He called for aligning selection parameters and recruitment processes with the needs of the future.

The 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' Shift

Perhaps the sharpest rhetorical pivot in Modi's address was his articulation of the philosophical change in how the state views citizens. 'We have seen an era in the past when it was believed that the government was the sole provider and guardian of the people. But today, we are in an era where our mantra is Nagrik Devo Bhava — every citizen of the country is no less than a deity for us. Serving citizens is our highest priority,' he said.

This comes amid a broader government push to position citizen-centric delivery — through digital platforms, direct benefit transfers, and single-window services — as the defining feature of India's administrative evolution. Notably, the invocation of Nagrik Devo Bhava mirrors the hospitality-sector maxim Atithi Devo Bhava, signalling an intentional rebranding of state-citizen relations.

On Motivation, Examination Cycles, and Officer Mindset

Modi revisited his practice of advising trainee officers to write down — at the very start of their careers — their reasons for joining the civil services. 'As time passes, responsibilities increase, and new challenges arise. At such times, that small note reminds them of their original purpose. It also becomes a self-appraisal tool for them,' he said.

He also called for reducing the UPSC examination cycle, acknowledging steps already taken in that direction, and emphasised the need to attract youth drawn to public service rather than the prestige of public office. As the UPSC enters its second century, the challenge will be whether selection reforms can keep pace with the governance ambitions Modi outlined.