9th Civil Service Day Celebrated on 21st April 2015

In India "Civil Service Day" is observed on the 21^st April by all Civil Services to re-invigorate themselves to the cause of the people. Civil Services in India is going through a transcendental phase, where in new challenges are taking over the earlier one. Thus it provides a unique opportunity for the Civil Services to re-align themselves to the present scenario and chalk out all the future strategies accordingly.

Civil Services of India is “the steel frame” on which the whole structure of our administration lies. It has indeed played a great role in maintaining the Unity and Integrity of a diverse country like India. The administration of a vast and diverse country like India requires efficient management of its natural, economic and human resources. In the System of Parliamentary Democracy of India, the responsibility for running the administration rests with the political executive but this handful of representatives cannot be expected to deal and handle the manifold problems of modern administration. Thus a minister lays down the policy and it is for the Civil Servants to implement and carry out this policy effectively. This is why Civil Services is also known as the ‘Administrative Organ of the Government’.

On this occasion, some officers were honoured for excellence in public administration. The 'PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration' is presented in three categories. Under this scheme of awards, instituted in 2006, all the officers individually or as group or as organization are eligible.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi confered the `Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’ for the years 2012–13 and 2013-14 to outstanding initiatives in Public Administration on the Ninth Civil Services Day which was being held here on April 21, 2015. Commenced in the year 2007, the first such function was attended by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. To mark the Day, a two-day programme organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, begins on April 20, 2015. Unlike previous years, the Civil Services Day which is being held on two days this year, focuses on ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ with specific sectoral emphasis on Social Sector, Housing, Employment & Skill Development and Agriculture.

During the event, a book on ‘Best Practices – Tomorrow is Here’ will also be released by the Prime Minister. The award includes a medal, scroll and a cash amount of Rs 1 lakh. In case of a team, the total award money is Rs 5 lakh subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per person.

On this occassion Prime Minister remembered Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who is also known as the "Father of the Indian Civil Services".