In an exclusive interview to Doordarshan News, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw democratisation of Civil Services with democratisation of youth aspiration.

While at one time, the IAS and Civil Services were confined only to a handful of States like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc, today, Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out, we get toppers from the States which earlier hardly figured in the civil services list toppers from Punjab, Haryana and J&K. He cited the case of Parsanjit Kour, the young girl from Poonch, a border district in J&K, who made it to All India Rank 11 in the Civil Services Exam of 2022 in very first attempt or the boy from Punjab, Anmol Sher Singh Bedi who was All India Rank 2 in the Civil Services Exam of 2016.

This, the Minister said, has restored faith in the objectivity and equal opportunity offered by the system and, thus also led to democratisation of youth aspiration.

“This is the true essence of democracy—where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe that her child can reach the top", said Dr Jitendra Singh.

 Dr Jitendra Singh said, the 11 years have been nothing short of transformational for India. “What generations longed for over decades has been made possible in just over a decade,” he stated, adding that PM Modi has wiped the tears of the past and replaced them with eyes full of hope and future aspirations.

Each passing year, the Minister said, has marked a new milestone—be it in infrastructure, governance, technology, or youth empowerment—creating unprecedented opportunities for every Indian.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that under PM Modi’s leadership, citizens' self-esteem has been restored. Referring to the PM’s historic 2016 call of "Start-Up India, Stand-Up India", he emphasized how it broadened the employment horizon beyond traditional government jobs.

“It was only then people realized that job doesn’t only mean "Sarkari Naukri", but also innovation, enterprise, and startups,” the Minister noted.

India’s biotech sector, he highlighted, is a perfect example—growing from just 50 StartUps in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a leap in valuation from $10 billion to nearly $170 billion. He credited this to strong public-private partnerships, and forward-thinking policies like Bio-E3 and the National Quantum Mission.

Dr. Jitendra Singh celebrated the integration of Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir into India’s mainstream development.

“For decades, these regions waited for railways—but under PM Modi, trains now run in valleys that were once isolated,” he said.

The Minister recounted the first-time commissioning of Jammu station in 1972 and the long gap in progress until PM Modi fulfilled this dream over half a century later, even flagging off Vande Bharat trains.

Citing emotional examples, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned the young crew staff girls from Manipur lost in the tragic Ahmedabad air crash as symbols of how far the region has come—from isolation to being part of the international aviation and hospitality industry.

Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed India’s leadership in the fields of space and biotechnology, highlighting the nation’s growing global stature in science and innovation. He announced that India’s astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will serve as the Mission Pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, where he will conduct cutting-edge space biology experiments using indigenously developed biotech kits by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Dr. Singh further shared that India is steadily progressing towards establishing its own 'Bharat Antariksh Station' by 2035, marking a significant milestone in the country's space ambitions.

He emphasized that the world is now actively collaborating with India and recognizing its scientific capabilities, a testament to the country’s rise as a trusted global science partner.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted several landmark governance reforms that have transformed citizen-centric service delivery over the past decade. He noted that CPGRAMS, India’s public grievance redressal mechanism, has evolved into a global model, handling over 26 lakh grievances in 2024 compared to just 2 lakh in 2014, with an impressive 96% disposal rate.

The Minister also spoke about the introduction of the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) for pensioners, which, through facial recognition technology, has eliminated the need for elderly citizens to physically visit banks for verification—a first-of-its-kind initiative in government. Furthermore, he cited progressive pension reforms, including the provision of family pension for widowed and divorced daughters, and the flexibility for women officers to nominate parents or children as beneficiaries, instead of being limited to their spouses—reflecting a more inclusive and compassionate approach to governance.

Highlighting the clean record of the Modi government, Dr. Jitendra Singh proudly stated “In the last 11 years, not a single charge of corruption has surfaced against any member of the Union Council of ministers. Compare that to the previous regime, where scams were the norm, he said.

The Minister also pointed out a cultural shift in politics, where the government no longer classifies citizens into vote banks, ensuring 100% saturation of schemes, including PM Awas Yojana homes in non-traditional voter areas.

On the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. Jitendra Singh assured that normalcy has returned, and tourism is thriving. “Visit Pahalgam today, where a tragic incident occurred recently—you’ll find it crowded with people,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh also touched on the Lithium reserves in J&K, calling them a potential economic game-changer, and emphasized that the youth of the region are aspirational and determined not to miss the bus.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Jitendra Singh said “The real driving force behind Viksit Bharat 2047 will be the citizens of India. It is their support, aspiration, and participation that will shape the next 25 years of Bharat's journey.”

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NKR/PSM