FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
Frazer Andrade
Every year, 21 - April has been celebrated as the National Civil Services Day in the country. The date of April 21 was chosen so as to commemorate the day in 1947 when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, addressed probationers of Administrative Services Officers at Metcalf House in Delhi. He alluded all civil servants as the 'steel frame of India'. The first ever function of such a kind was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21 April 2006 and since then April 21 has been celebrated annually as National Civil Service Day.
The day has been set aside to celebrate the exceptional work done by civil servants across the nation, and as a suitable moment for them to commit themselves ones again to the cause of the citizens of India. Annually on this day, the Prime Minister of India confers the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, to implementing units/districts for priority
program implementation and innovation categories.
The day is observed to acknowledge the work of officers who are engaged in various public service departments in the country, to commemorate their exemplary services and to reflect back what they have done years back. This day is also a reminder for civil servants to run the administrative machinery of the country collectively and with art most dedication to serving citizens. Also, on this day they make plans for the coming year, and have discussions on how they would have to work for their respective departments.
One will agree to the fact that Civil Service is the service that is responsible for public administration of the country’s government. It does not include legislative, judiciary, and military personnel. Civil service members do not pledge to any political ruling party but are the executioners of the policies of the ruling party. The Civil Service in India consists of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and a
comprehensive list of All India Services and Central Services Group A and Group B.
The term ‘Civil Service’ goes back to the British regime when the civilian staff of the British East India Company were involved in administrative jobs and referred to as 'Public Servants'. Its foundation has been laid by Warren Hastings and later more reforms had been made by Charles Cornwallis. Hence, he was known as the "Father of Civil Services in India". Every year lakhs of candidates apply for the Indian Civil Service, for almost a thousand posts. Civil service is the pillar on which the government runs policies and programs for the country. The immense contribution of civil servants to society and to the nation as a whole is way beyond what words may be able to express.
