Text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's speech at Saansad Adarsh Graam event at Jayapur Varanasi

The policies we are working on today, the decisions we are making, are going to shape the future of the next thousand years: PM Modi

India’s youth, farmers and women have soaring dreams, fulfilling them needs extraordinary speed: PM Modi

Real progress is full-scale impact-clean water, quality education, financial access, and digital inclusion for all: PM Modi

Quality in governance is determined by how deeply schemes reach the people and their real impact on the ground: PM Modi

In the past 10 years, India has moved beyond incremental change to witness impactful transformation: PM Modi

India is setting new benchmarks in governance, transparency and innovation: PM Modi

The approach of 'Janbhagidari' turned the G20 into a people's movement and the world acknowledged,India is not just participating, it is leading: PM Modi

In the age of technology, governance is not about managing systems, it is about multiplying possibilities: PM Modi

To build a future-ready civil service, we must enhance competence hence Mission Karmayogi and Capacity Building Programme are key: PM Modi

My cabinet colleague Dr. Jitendra Singh ji, Shri Shaktikanta Das ji, Dr. Somanathan ji, other senior officials, all colleagues from Civil Services across the country, ladies and gentlemen!

Friends,

Many congratulations to all of you on Civil Services Day! This year’s Civil Services Day is special for several reasons. This year, we are celebrating the 75th year of our Constitution, and it is also the 150th birth anniversary year of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On 21st April 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel referred to you all as the “Steel Frame of India.” He set new standards for the bureaucracy of independent Bharat. A civil servant who considers serving the nation as their highest duty. One who runs the administration in a democratic manner. One who is filled with honesty, discipline, and dedication. One who works day and night for the goals of the country. Today, as we move forward with the resolve to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), the words of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel become even more relevant. I pay homage to Sardar Patel’s vision today and offer him my heartfelt tribute.

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Friends,

Some time ago, I had said from the Red Fort that today’s Bharat must lay a strong foundation for the next thousand years. If we look at it a certain way, 25 years of this millennium have already passed. This is the 25th year of the new century, and also the 25th year of the new millennium. The policies we are working on today, the decisions we are making, will shape the future for the next thousand years. Our scriptures say: यथा हि एकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर्भवेत्। एवं पुरूषकारेण विना दैवं न सिध्यति॥ Which means: just as a chariot cannot move with only one wheel, success cannot be achieved by relying on fate alone, without hard work. To achieve our goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, every wheel of the chariot of progress must move together. We must work with unwavering determination every day, every moment. We must live for this goal, and devote our lives to achieving it.

Friends,

We are witnessing a rapidly changing world. Even within your families, you must have noticed—if there is a 10 or 15-year-old child, and you talk to them, you might feel outdated. This happens because time is changing very fast. Gadgets are evolving every 2-3 years. Before we can fully understand or learn one thing, something new arrives. Our young children are growing up with these rapid changes. Our bureaucracy, our working style, our policymaking cannot follow outdated patterns anymore. That is why, since 2014, a major transformation of the system has begun in the country. We are adapting ourselves to this fast pace. Today, Bharat’s aspirational society—our youth, our farmers, our women—the height at which their dreams are soaring is truly unprecedented. And to meet these extraordinary aspirations, extraordinary speed is also required. In the coming years, Bharat will pass through many major milestones—goals related to energy security, clean energy, sports, space, and many others. In every sector, we must raise the country’s flag to new heights. And when I speak about this, when the nation envisions it—all eyes are on you, the trust is in all of you, and a great responsibility rests on your shoulders, my colleagues. You must make Bharat the world’s third-largest economy as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is no delay in achieving this goal.

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Friends,

I am pleased that the theme for this year's Civil Services Day is "Holistic Development of India." This is not just a theme—it is our commitment, our promise to the people of this country. Holistic Development of India means: No village left behind, no family left behind, no citizen left behind. True progress doesn't mean minor changes—it means full-scale impact. Clean water in every home, quality education for every child, financial access for every entrepreneur, and digital economy benefits reaching every village—this is what holistic development truly means. I believe that quality in governance doesn’t come just by launching schemes. Rather, quality in governance is defined by how deeply a scheme reaches the people and what real impact it creates. Today, whether it's Rajkot, Gomati, Tinsukia, or Koraput—so many districts are showcasing this impact. From increasing school attendance to adopting solar power, many districts have done remarkable work, achieving their goals. Several of these districts have been awarded today. I extend special congratulations to all the teams involved in these districts and schemes.

Friends,

In the past 10 years, Bharat has moved beyond incremental change and witnessed a journey toward impactful transformation. Today, Bharat’s governance model is focused on Next Generation Reforms. Through technology, innovation, and innovative practices, we are closing the gap between the government and the citizens. The impact of this is visible not only in rural and urban areas but also in remote regions. You have heard me talk about Aspirational Districts often. But the success of the Aspirational Blocks program is equally remarkable. You know this program was launched in January 2023, just two years ago. And in these two years, the changes seen in these blocks are unprecedented. These blocks have made outstanding progress in indicators such as health, nutrition, social development, and basic infrastructure. In some cases, they have even surpassed the state averages. Two years ago, only 20% of children in Anganwadi centers were being measured properly in the Piplu block of Tonk district, Rajasthan. Now, that figure has gone up to over 99%. In the Jagdishpur block of Bhagalpur, Bihar, registration of pregnant women in the first trimester was just 25%. Now, it has increased to more than 90%. In the Marwah block of Jammu & Kashmir, institutional deliveries have risen from 30% to 100%. In the Gurdi block of Jharkhand, tap water connections have jumped from 18% to 100%. These aren’t just numbers—they represent the fulfilment of our pledge for last-mile delivery. They show that with the right intent, planning, and execution, desired transformation is possible even in the most remote areas.

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Friends,

Over the past 10 years, Bharat has demonstrated many transformative changes and reached new heights of achievement. Today, Bharat is not only known for its growth, but also for setting new benchmarks in governance, transparency, and innovation.

Our G20 Presidency is a prime example of this. Hosting over 200 meetings across more than 60 cities—such a massive and inclusive footprint happened for the first time in G20 history. And this is exactly what a holistic approach is. Our model of public participation has placed us 10–11 years ahead of many other nations. Over the past 11 years, we have tried to eliminate the culture of delay. We’ve built new processes and used technology to reduce turnaround time. To promote ease of business, we have eliminated over 40,000 compliances and decriminalized more than 3,400 legal provisions. I remember, when we were working to reduce the burden of compliance, and decriminalizing certain mistakes that happen during regular business operations, I was surprised that there were still voices of opposition in some corners. Some people said: “It has never been done before, why are you doing it? Let it be—it works fine as it is. Why bother? Let people keep doing compliance. Why are you increasing your workload?” Discussions happened from all directions. Responses came, but the pressure of achieving our goals was greater than the pressure of resistance. That’s why we didn’t give in to the pressure—we stayed focused on the goal. If we keep following the old paths, new results will be hard to come by. It is only when we do something different, that we get different results. And today, because of this mind-set, Bharat has significantly improved in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. Today, the world is eager to invest in Bharat, and it is our responsibility to make sure we do not miss these opportunities. We must take full advantage of them. At the state, district, and block levels, we must eliminate every trace of red tape. Only then will you be able to achieve your goals at all these levels.

Friends,

The successes that the country has achieved over the past 10–11 years have laid a very strong foundation for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Now, the country has begun the construction of a grand edifice of ‘Viksit Bharat’ on this solid foundation. But in this process of building, we also face many challenges. Bharat has now become the most populous country in the world. In such a situation, saturation of basic facilities must be our top priority. You must constantly focus on last-mile delivery. Over time, both the needs and aspirations of our citizens are changing rapidly. Civil Services must now adapt themselves to contemporary challenges—only then can they remain relevant. We must also set new benchmarks for ourselves regularly and continue to meet and exceed them. The biggest key to success is to keep challenging yourself. What was achieved yesterday should not be a point of satisfaction—it should be a reason to challenge ourselves further, so that tomorrow we can achieve even more. We can no longer measure our performance by comparing ourselves to previous governments. “My predecessor in the district did this much and I’ve done more” is not enough anymore. We must now create our own standards. We must ask: How far are we from the goals of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047? The time for looking back and taking stock is over. Now the question is: How far do I still have to go from where I stand today? What is my roadmap to bridge that distance? What is my pace? How can I reach the goals of 2047 faster than others? This must be our dream, our purpose, and our goal.

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We must evaluate every sector: is our current speed sufficient to achieve the targets we’ve set? If not, we must accelerate. We must remember that we now have access to technologies that didn’t exist before—we must move forward with the power of technology. In 10 years, we built 4 crore permanent houses for the poor. But now, we have the goal of building 3 crore more houses. In 5–6 years, we have connected over 12 crore rural homes with tap water. Now, we must connect every rural home as soon as possible. In 10 years, we constructed more than 11 crore toilets for the poor. Now, we must achieve new goals related to waste management. No one could have imagined that millions of poor people would get free medical treatment up to 5 lakh rupees. Now, we must fulfil new commitments for nutrition across the country. Our single goal should be: 100% coverage, 100% impact. This very approach has helped bring 25 crore people out of poverty in the past 10 years. And this same approach will lead to a poverty-free Bharat.

Friends,

There was a time when the role of the bureaucracy was primarily that of a regulator, one that controlled the pace of industrialization and entrepreneurship. But the country has now moved far beyond that mind-set. Today, we are creating an environment that promotes enterprise among citizens and helps them overcome every barrier. Therefore, the Civil Service must become an enabler—not merely the keeper of rule books, but an active facilitator of growth. Let me give you the example of the MSME sector. As you know, the country has launched the Mission Manufacturing initiative. The success of this mission largely depends on our MSME sector. Amidst the changes happening globally, our MSMEs, start-ups, and young entrepreneurs now have a historic and unprecedented opportunity. In such a scenario, it's crucial that we become more competitive in the global supply chain. We must also remember that MSMEs are not just competing with small entrepreneurs—they are competing globally. If a small country offers better ease of compliance to its industries, then it will be in a better position to compete with start-ups from our country. That’s why we must constantly assess where we stand among global best practices. If Bharat’s industries aim to create globally best products, then Bharat’s bureaucracy must aim to offer the best ease-of-compliance environment in the world.

Friends,

In today's tech-driven world, civil servants need skills that help them not only understand technology, but also use it for smart and inclusive governance. “In the age of technology, governance is not about managing systems, it is about multiplying possibilities.” We must become tech-savvy, so that every policy and scheme can be made more efficient and accessible through technology. We must become experts in data-driven decision-making, so that policy design and implementation become more accurate. You're already witnessing how rapidly Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Physics are evolving. Soon, there will be a new revolution in the use of technology—one that goes far beyond the digital and information age we're familiar with today. You must prepare yourselves—and the entire system—for this future technology revolution, so we can deliver the best services to citizens and meet their aspirations. We must enhance the capabilities of our civil servants, so we can build a future-ready civil service. That is why I place great importance on Mission Karmayogi and the Civil Service Capacity Building Programme, which I just mentioned.

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Friends,

In this rapidly changing era, we must keep a close watch on global challenges. As you can see, food, water, and energy security continue to pose significant challenges—especially for the Global South, where these issues have become a serious crisis. Ongoing global conflicts have further worsened conditions in many countries. This impacts people and disrupts their everyday lives. We must understand the growing interconnection between domestic and external affairs, and adapt our policies and strategies accordingly. Be it climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, or cyber threats, Bharat must stay ten steps ahead in taking action. We must design local-level strategies and build resilient development models.

Friends,

I have spoken from the Red Fort about the ‘Panch Pran’—the five vows: A resolve for a ‘Viksit Bharat’; freedom from the mind-set of slavery; pride in our heritage; unity and solidarity; and performing our duties with honesty. You all are the chief carriers of these five vows. Every time you prioritize integrity over convenience, innovation over inertia, or service over status, you are moving the nation forward. I have full faith in all of you. To the young officers who are just beginning their professional journey, I would like to say one more thing: There is no one in society who has achieved success without the support of the community. Without the contribution of society, it is difficult for anyone to move even one step forward. That is why everyone wishes to give back to society in whatever way they can. You are all very fortunate, because you have a tremendous opportunity to give back. The country, the society has given you this great responsibility—to serve and to return the most to the people.

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Friends,

This is the time to re-imagine reforms in the civil services. We need to accelerate the pace of reforms, and also scale them up. Whether it's infrastructure, renewable energy targets, internal security, our mission to eliminate corruption, social welfare schemes, or sports and Olympic goals—in every sector, we must introduce new reforms. What we have achieved so far is commendable, but now we must achieve several times more than that. And amidst all this, we must always remember one thing: "No matter how technology-driven the world becomes, we should never forget the importance of human judgment." Stay sensitive, listen to the voice of the poor, understand their pain, and make solving their problems your top priority. Just as we say ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (The guest is god), we must move forward with the mantra of ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (The citizen is god). You must prepare yourself not just as a civil servant, but as an architect of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

There was a time when one became a civil servant, grew in that role, and continued serving in the same capacity. But times have changed, friends. The vision I have for Bharat, the dreams I see in the eyes of 140 crore Indians, compel me to say this: You are not just civil servants anymore. You are the architects of a new Bharat. To fulfil that responsibility as architects, we must empower ourselves, dedicate our time to national goals, and make the dreams of every common citizen our own. When we do that, we will witness the rise of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ with our own eyes. As I speak today, my gaze falls on a young girl sitting here—a small doll-like child. Perhaps, by 2047, she will be sitting in your place. These are the dreams we must own. This should be the goal of our ‘Viksit Bharat’. Wishing you all the very best.

Thank you so much!