PM Modi calls for modernizing UPSC recruitment at centenary event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Marking 100 years since the commission's establishment in 1926, the event included the release of a commemorative coin, a postage stamp, and a book titled ‘100 Historical Decisions Shaping UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India’.

During his speech, the Prime Minister called for the UPSC and state selection commissions to modernize recruitment processes to meet future demands. He emphasized that selection criteria should move beyond academic knowledge to include problem-solving abilities, foresight, and the capacity to handle emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and climate justice.

Modi also highlighted the need for greater certainty in examination timelines. He noted that delays in the examination cycle impose significant financial and emotional burdens on youth, urging commissions to shorten the cycle without compromising the quality of assessments. He stressed that 21st-century administration must be proactive, citizen-centric, and capable of navigating a rapidly urbanizing landscape.