The National Civil Services Day is annually observed across India on 21st April to recognise and celebrate civil service officers who are engaged in various public service departments across India.
- The day also acts as a reminder for the public servants to run the administrative machinery of the nation collectively and with a dedication to serve the citizens of India.
21st April 2023 marks the observance of the 16th National Civil Services Day.
The theme of the National Civil Services Day 2023 is “Viksit Bharat: Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”.
- The 2023 theme highlights the Government of India’s resolve and commitment to achieve a more equitable and prosperous India for all citizens by engaging in inclusive growth.
Background:
i.In 2006, then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh inaugurated an event to mark the Civil Service Day.
ii.He stated that all the 61 All India and Central Civil Services including 15 non-technical and 20 technical services are collectively observing the ‘Civil Service Day’.
- The first National Civil Services Day was celebrated at a function held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi on April 21, 2006.
Why April 21?
The government of India has decided to mark the 21st April as the National Civil Services Day to commemorate the day on which India’s first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the newly formed and newly appointed Administrative Service Officers at the Metcalfe House, Delhi in 1947.
- During his 1947 address, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel referred to the civil service officers as the “Steel Frame of India”.
Celebration of 16th Civil Services Day:
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State(MoS), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, addressed the inaugural session of the 16th National Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
- During the event, Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, unveiled the e-book on the ‘National Good Governance Webinar Series’.
- He also inaugurated an exhibition on ‘Good Governance Practices in India- Awarded Initiatives’.
Events over 16th Civil Services Day held for two days from 20 to 21 April 2023
Key People:
Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary, Sunil Kumar Gupta, Secretary to the Vice-President of India, V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and other senior officers graced the event.
PM Modi conferred Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi presented the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to 15 awardees during the event organised at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi on the occasion of 16th National Civil Services Day.
- He also released the e-books ‘Viksit Bharat – Empowering Citizens & Reaching the last mile Volume I and II’ during the event.
PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
The 15 awardees were chosen from 2520 nominations. Around 97% of districts registered for the PM Awards for Excellence in 2022.
i.The 8 awards were presented to recognise exemplary work done in 4 identified priority programmes:
- Promoting Swachh Jal through Har Ghar Jal Yojana;
- Promoting Swasth Bharat through Health & Wellness Centres;
- Promoting quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment through Samagra Shiksha;
- Holistic Development through Aspirational District Programme – overall progress with a special focus on saturation approach.
ii.7 awards were presented for innovations.
About the award:
i.The Government of India instituted “The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration” in 2006 to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/ Organizations of the Central and State Governments.
ii.The award scheme was restructured in 2014 for recognizing the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programs, Innovations and Aspirational Districts and it was restructured in 2020 to recognize the performance of District Collectors towards the economic development of the District.
iii.The scheme was revamped with a new approach in 2021 with the objective to encourage Constructive Competition, Innovation, Replication and Institutionalisation of Best Practices.
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions:
Union Minister– Narendra Modi (Prime Minister) (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Dr. Jitendra Singh(Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir)
