New Delhi, 01 October (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for greater certainty in the examination and recruitment process of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), stressing that delays can directly affect the careers and future of young aspirants.

Addressing the UPSC’s centenary celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, PM Modi said examinations should not be treated merely as isolated events because they are closely linked to the future of millions of young people. He emphasised the principle of “time certainty” and called for recruitment processes to be completed within predictable timelines.

The Prime Minister was speaking as the UPSC marked 100 years since the establishment of India’s first Public Service Commission on October 1, 1926. The centenary celebrations culminated in a two-day programme focused on the evolving role of public administration, institutional reform, technology and civil services.

PM Modi said the UPSC has retained public trust despite major changes in governments, technology, examination patterns and educational systems over the past century. He said the Commission and State Public Service Commissions would have an important role in preparing the human resources required for India’s development over the next two to three decades.

The Prime Minister urged recruitment bodies to assess candidates not only on their academic knowledge but also on their motivation to enter public service. He said the selection process should identify young people who are genuinely interested in serving citizens rather than merely seeking government positions.

He also called for recruitment decisions to be guided by the principles of “Nation First” and “Citizen First”. According to PM Modi, public servants must understand that their decisions directly affect citizens and that the recruitment process therefore carries a significant responsibility.

Referring to changing public expectations, PM Modi said citizens increasingly expect government services to respond with the speed and efficiency associated with modern technology. He pointed to developments such as artificial intelligence and real-time data availability, saying these changes were creating new expectations from public administration.

He advocated a governance approach centred on being “Pro-People, Proactive and Good Governance”, with public servants expected to combine empathy with innovation and effective implementation.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the expanding participation of young people from villages and smaller towns in public services, along with the increasing representation of women. He said broader participation had changed the social composition of those entering government services compared with the early years of the UPSC.

PM Modi further suggested that the UPSC and State Public Service Commissions could use the iGOT platform under Mission Karmayogi to strengthen their institutional capabilities and support continuous capacity building.

The government has undertaken several measures aimed at improving the recruitment process, including digital application systems, technology-assisted candidate verification and measures intended to make examinations more efficient and transparent.

During the centenary programme,PM Modi also released a commemorative coin and postage stamp marking 100 years of the UPSC, along with a publication documenting significant judicial decisions relating to the Commission and public service commissions.

The UPSC is an independent constitutional body established under Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution. It conducts examinations for recruitment to various Union services and advises the government on recruitment, appointments, promotions and related personnel matters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar