Must bring youth into public services who are not attracted to public office: PM Modi at UPSC centenary celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the UPSC centenary celebrations in New Delhi on Thursday, emphasizing the need to attract youth to public services who are not drawn to public office. He highlighted the importance of the recruitment examination assessing not only a candidate's knowledge but also understanding their motivation for joining the civil services.

For Modi, the citizen is seen as equivalent to a deity, and the service of the citizen takes precedence. Modi reiterated the two guiding principles: nation first and citizen first. He stressed the necessity of recruiting individuals who are motivated by public service rather than public office. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the UPSC, Modi released a commemorative coin, a stamp, and a book titled "100 Landmark Judgements: Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India."

This centenary event marked the end of a year-long celebration series that began on October 1, 2025, in honor of the UPSC's establishment in 1926.