April 21 - National Civil Service Day: All You Need To Know

The occasion's main objective is to acknowledge the efforts of India's civil servants across departments.

India's Civil Service consists of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), along with a comprehensive list of All India Services and Central Services Group A and Group B. It is the backbone of the country's administrative machinery.

The civil servants are responsible for determining policy choices and implementing all the government schemes to the root level. They also address various social issues and do the needful to solve them.

As a token of appreciation for all such civil servants, April 21 each year is celebrated (by the government of India) as National Civil Service Day across India. The occasion acknowledges the efforts of civil servants across departments and serves as a reminder to them to keep the service of the nation and people above all.

A Brief History

On April 21, 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (India's first home minister) addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers at Metcalf House, Delhi. In his speech, he referred to the civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’.

Hence, the government of India designated April 21 to celebrate National Civil Service Day.

The first event was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21 April 2006.

Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration

Each year, on National Civil Service Day, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented to civil servants for their contribution to the service of the nation and the people. Every official (singly or in combination or as an organization) is qualified for this award.

The award ceremony is organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

The award consists of a medallion, a parchment, and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Some Powerful Quotes for National Civil Services Day

"Along with discipline, you must cultivate an esprit de corps without which a Service as such has little meaning. You should regard it as a proud privilege to belong to the Service, covenants of which you will sign, and to uphold throughout your service, its dignity, integrity, and incorruptibility.” - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

"The Prime Minister and the chief ministers are one team. The Cabinet Ministers and the State Ministers are another team. The civil servants at the center and the states are yet another team. This is the only way we can successfully develop India.” - Narendra Modi

"Above all, I would advise you to maintain to the utmost the impartiality and incorruptibility of administration. A civil servant cannot afford to and must not, take part in politics. Nor must he involve himself in communal wrangles.” - Sardar Patel