Gujarat CM Patel Tells New Police Recruits "Citizens Are God," Stresses Service & Modernisation

After clearing the police recruitment exams, more than 11,000 youth, including about 3,100 young women, have joined Team Gujarat, the release said.

CM Patel presented the selection letters in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Minister Kamlesh Patel, and Mayor of Gandhinagar Mira Patel, MLA Rita Patel and senior police officials in Gandhinagar

Chief Minister urged the newly selected police personnel to serve with a nation-first spirit and commitment to humanity.

He emphasised that police personnel enforcing the law must respect human rights, uphold constitutional values, and act impartially in their duties.

Noting that people turn to the police first in times of crisis, CM urged officers to prioritize humility in conduct, politeness in speech, and integrity in their work. CM shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unique interpretation of "POLICE": P - Polite - Always courteous and compassionate to the public, O - Obedient: Perform duties while following officers' instructions L - Loyal: Faithful to the Constitution and laws, acting accordingly I - Intelligent: Alert and working with wisdom C - Courageous: Never lose courage and ready to face any challenge E - Enthusiastic: Energetic and ever-ready to serve and protect. Above all, officers should carry a nation-first spirit in their hearts.

Gujarat CM expressed confidence that the new police recruits will embody the essence shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, guided by the principle of "Citizen is God."

The Chief Minister said the state is rapidly modernising the police force with smart initiatives such as a statewide CCTV Network, Command and Control Centres, body-worn cameras, and the Cyber Aashvast (Cyber Safe) Project.

He added that with the technological proficiency of the recruits, capacity building will improve, helping Gujarat lead a safe, prosperous, and Viksit Bharat@ 2047.

Congratulating the 11,607 recruits, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi said the police uniform empowers them to fight social evils and serve the public tirelessly. He urged them to work with energy and empathy, helping citizens wholeheartedly while upholding the honour of the uniform.

Harsh Sanghavi announced that, for the first time, candidates can indicate district preferences, with appointments made in their native or nearby districts under transparent rules. He also stated that physical tests for recruits are planned by the end of January.

Motivating the new Gujarat Police personnel, the Minister urged them to stay connected with their hometowns and friends, noting that personal bonds outlast official positions. He also said that they should honor their parents, whose hard work made this achievement possible, by seeking their blessings.

On this occasion, Chief Secretary M. K. Das congratulated the recruits and lauded Recruitment Board Chairperson Neerja Gotru and her team for completing the appointment process flawlessly.

Sanghavi noted that under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's leadership, over 40,000 youths have been appointed across state departments in the past month.

Chief Secretary Das emphasised that police duty goes beyond enforcing the law to protecting justice and humanity. He said the uniform symbolises public trust, integrity, discipline, and citizens' sense of security. While strictness in upholding the law is necessary, humanity and sensitivity are equally vital, making police contributions to societal peace and security invaluable.

Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay congratulated the Police Recruitment Board Chairperson for conducting a transparent recruitment process and emphasized that "Viksit Bharat - Viksit Gujarat" is achievable only when citizens feel safe. He noted that Gujarat Police's longstanding efforts to ensure public safety have made the Gujarat Model recognized nationally and internationally.

Neerja Gotru, Chairperson of the Gujarat Police Recruitment Board, congratulated the recruits and highlighted the scale and transparency of the process: over 10 lakh candidates participated in physical tests, More than 2.45 lakh appeared for the written exam, and document verification was done for over 32,000 candidates. Ultimately, 11,899 were selected for the Lokrakshak cadre, including 8,782 men and 3,117 women, with technologies such as biometrics ensuring fully transparent recruitment.

The ceremony was attended by Gandhinagar Mayor Mira Patel, MLA Smt. Rita Patel, DGP CID (Crime & Railways), K. L. N. Rao, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, Gyanender Singh Malik, Raju Bhargava, Secretary of the Home Department, Sushri Nipuna Torawane, police officers and personnel, and a large number of newly recruited candidates.

- ANI