‘Be architects of a future-ready India’: PM Modi tells bureaucrats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged country's civil servants to reinvent themselves as enablers of growth and architects of a future-ready nation, calling for a shift from regulatory mindsets to citizen-centric governance.

 

Speaking at the 17th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, Modi reminded officers of their foundational role in nation-building and underscored the urgency of adapting to rapid global, technological, and economic changes.

 

“Our policies today will shape the next thousand years,” Modi said, adding that intent alone was not enough – consistent, long-term effort was vital.

 

He called for bureaucratic reform that matched India’s ambitions, stating, India’s work processes cannot run on 20th-century frameworks.

 

Recounting Sardar Patel's iconic statement on April 21, 1947, where he referred to civil servants as the ‘Steel Frame of India’, Modi emphasised Patel's vision of a bureaucracy that upholds discipline, honesty, and democratic values, serving the nation with utmost dedication.

 

The prime minister emphasised the need for governance that is responsive, technology-driven, and impact-oriented. He urged civil servants to embrace tools such as AI and data analytics, and to shed colonial-era mindsets in favour of innovation, inclusion, and outcomes.

 

Modi praised the role of bureaucrats in delivering flagship initiatives such as the Aspirational Districts and Blocks programmes, piped water supply, sanitation, housing, and financial inclusion.

 

Talking about the work done in the last one decade, Modi pointed to administrative reforms, including the removal of 40,000 compliance burdens and the decriminalisation of over 3,400 legal provisions, as examples of improved ease of living and doing business.

 

Referring to India’s G20 presidency, Modi said it showed what effective administration and people-driven governance could achieve on the global stage.

India