Naagrik Devo Bhava...: PM Modi's new mantra to civil servants

"We should always remember one thing: no matter how technology-driven the world becomes, we should never forget the importance of human judgments. Listen to the voice of the poor and hear their pain. You solve their problems; it should be your first priority. Jaise 'Atithi Devo Bhava' hota hai, vaise hi 'Naagrik Devo Bhava' ke mantra ko le kr ke chalna hai. You have to prepare yourself for your duty not only as civil servants of India but also as architects of Viksit Bharat," PM Modi said, addressing the 17th Civil Services Day event at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

PM Modi said that today, the country is beginning to build the grand vision of a Viksit Bharat on a strong foundation.

"However, there is no shortage of challenges in this journey. India has now become the most populous country in the world. In this context, achieving saturation of basic amenities must be our top priority. A strong focus on last-mile delivery is essential. As the needs and aspirations of citizens evolve rapidly, civil services must also adapt to contemporary challenges," he said.

He said that the foundation laid over the past decade has greatly strengthened the path towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

"We cannot evaluate our work or performance by comparing it to previous governments...We must set our own benchmarks. We need to measure how far we still are from the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat by 2047'. The time for tallying up what we have achieved so far is over," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister touched upon India's global leadership and highlighted the scale of its presidency at the G20.

"We are no longer just focused on growth, but on setting benchmarks in governance, transparency, and innovation. Our G20 Presidency is a strong example of this. Over 200 meetings were held across more than 60 cities, an unprecedentedly inclusive footprint that has never been seen before in the history of the G20. This reflects our truly holistic approach," he added.

The Prime Minister said that they have launched the Mission Manufacturing, and its success can be largely attributed to MSMEs.

"Today, MSMEs, startups and young entrepreneurs have unprecedented opportunities. Therefore, ensuring competitiveness in the global supply chain is crucial. Their competition is not just with small entrepreneurs but with the entire world," he asserted.

Earlier, PM Modi released e-Coffee Table Books on 'Holistic Development of Districts for Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration' and 'Select Innovations from Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration'.

The Prime Minister also conferred the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration for effective implementation of identified priority programmes and innovation to districts and central and state governments.