New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), recalled that Sanskrit was part of the civil services examination even during British rule.
Speaking at Bharat Mandapam, Modi referred to an exhibition tracing the history of the civil services examination. He said the display showed that freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose had appeared for the examination in 1920 and opted to write a Sanskrit paper.
Modi said he found the detail noteworthy because the examination was being conducted at a time when India was under British rule. He pointed to Bose’s appearance in the examination as one of the interesting chapters in the long history of India’s civil services system.
The Prime Minister was speaking at an event marking 100 years of the UPSC. He said the occasion was not only about the institution’s history but also about the aspirations of millions of young Indians who look towards public service as a career.
Modi highlighted the changes the institution has gone through over the decades. He noted that governments, generations, technology and examination syllabi have changed, while public trust in the UPSC has continued.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the transformation of the civil services after Independence. He said the system that had operated during the British period was adapted to serve the needs and aspirations of an independent India.
Modi paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his role in shaping India’s administrative system after Independence. He credited Patel with helping build a strong administrative structure that could support the newly independent country.
The history of competitive civil service examinations in India goes back to the 19th century. According to historical records cited in reports on the UPSC’s institutional journey, competitive examinations for the civil service began in 1855 following reforms introduced after the recommendations of a British parliamentary committee.
India’s first Public Service Commission was established on October 1, 1926. It later became the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937. After the Constitution came into force in 1950, it was renamed the Union Public Service Commission.
During his address, Modi urged people attending the centenary celebrations to visit the exhibition and learn about the institution’s journey. He said the experience of the past century should also help the UPSC prepare for the challenges and expectations of the next 25 years.
The centenary programme also included the release of commemorative material marking the UPSC’s 100-year journey and highlighting important milestones in the history of public service recruitment in India.
