Original text of the Prime Minister's address at the UPSC centenary ceremony

The Indian Administrative Service (UPSC) organized its centenary ceremony this year, with the Prime Minister addressing as the chief guest. In his speech, he presented, for the first time, a concise overview of UPSC’s journey from its founding year 1926 to the present. He said that since independence, UPSC has played a crucial role in making the nation’s system of governance capable, impartial, and accountable. He emphasized the core principles of the administrative service—justice, transparency, and public service—and noted that these principles must be linked with modern technological tools and data‑driven policy‑making.

The Prime Minister highlighted three major points in his keynote at the centenary ceremony: first, to prioritize ethics and the public interest in administrative training; second, to expand the reach and speed of government services through Digital India and AI‑based solutions; third, to promote diversity and inclusivity while realizing the goals of social justice. Addressing young candidates specifically, he urged them to “be catalysts of change, not merely functionaries.” After the speech, many senior officials and academic experts praised it as “the future administrative guideline,” while some stressed the need for greater practical skill development in training.

At the close of the ceremony, the Prime Minister wished all UPSC candidates well and called on them to “continually achieve excellence in the sacred mission of serving the nation.” This centenary ceremony and address are being regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of the Indian Administrative Service, marking a turning point for public administration in the decades ahead.