Must bring youth into public services who are not attracted to public office: PM Modi at UPSC centenary celebrations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for civil servants motivated by public service rather than the prestige of office during the UPSC centenary celebrations. He suggested that recruitment exams should evaluate a candidate's underlying intent to serve the nation.
Why it matters
The Prime Minister's comments reflect a push for administrative reform and a shift in the cultural expectations of India's bureaucratic recruitment process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (October 1, 2026) said the country must bring youth into public services who are not attracted to public office.
Addressing an event in New Delhi, he said it is essential that the recruitment examination does not just test what a candidate knows but also sees that "why that youth wants to come into civil services".
"Our mantra is... citizen is God. Meaning, the citizen of the country is no less than a deity to us. For us, the service of the citizen is paramount," he said.
Mr. Modi said that "we must always remember two touchstones. One - nation first. Second - citizen first".
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