The National Civil Services Day is annually observed across India on 21st April to celebrate the Civil Servants who serve the nation in different terrains and across different sectors.
The day recognises the contribution of the civil servants who help the citizens and enhance the national progress.
- 21st April 2022 marks the observance of the 15th National Civil Services Day.
The theme of Civil Services Day 2022 is “Vision India@2047 – Bringing Citizens and Government closer”.
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.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel referred to the officers as the “steel frame of India”.
About the Civil Service System of India:
i.The Civil Service System plays a major role in the administrative machinery of India and it is the permanent executive branch of the Republic of India.
ii.The Civil Service Examination(CSE) was first conducted in India in 1922 with the setting up of the Federal Public Service Commission.
iii.With the inauguration of the Constitution of India on 26th January 1950, the
Federal Public Service Commission came to be known as the Union Public Service Commission(UPSC).
iv.The CSE conducted by UPSC is a nationwide competitive exam for recruitment to higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service(IAS), the Indian Foreign Service(IFS), and the Indian Police Service(IPS).
Events:
i.Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions inaugurated the 15th National Civil Services Day function in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.He also inaugurated the exhibition on the Awarded initiatives of 2019, 2020 and 2021 on the identified Priority Programmes and Innovations and chaired a Plenary Session on the topic ‘Vision India @ 2047-Governance’.
Note:
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh insisted to focus on officers having 25 years of active service ahead and the current officers must help in their capacity building for making India a frontline nation, when it celebrates the 100th year of Independence in 2047.
PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2021:
On the occasion of the National Civil Services Day 2022, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi conferred the PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2021.
i.A total of 16 awards, 10 Awards for 5 identified Priority Programmes and 6 Awards to organizations of Central/ State Government/Districts for innovations, were awarded during the event.
ii.The 6 identified priority programmes are,
- Promoting “Jan Bhagidari” or People’s Participation in Poshan Abhiyan.
- Promoting excellence in sports and wellness through the Khelo India scheme.
- Digital payments and Good Governance in PM SVANidhi Yojana.
- Holistic Development through One District One Product scheme.
- Seamless, End-to-End Delivery of Services without Human Intervention.
- Innovations (Centre, State and Districts).
About the PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration:
i.The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration was instituted in 2006 to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/ Organizations of the Central and State Governments.
ii.The Scheme was restructured in 2014 and 2020, for recognizing the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programs, Innovations and Aspirational Districts and to recognize the performance of District Collectors towards the economic development of the District respectively.
iii.The Scheme has been revamped with a new approach in 2021 to encourage Constructive Competition, Innovation, Replication and Institutionalisation of Best Practices.
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension:
Union Minister– Narendra Modi (Prime Minister) (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Dr Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir)
