Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh today hailed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as the “guardian of India’s steel frame of governance,” while addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Shatabdi Sammelan’, the centenary celebration of UPSC, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Speaking as Guest of Honour in the presence of Chief Guest Shri Om Birla, Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, and UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that UPSC has stood as a pillar of integrity, fairness, and transparency through India’s pre- and post-Independence eras, serving as a silent witness to the nation’s democratic journey. He recalled Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s description of the Civil Services as the “Steel Frame of India” and said, *“It is the Union Public Service Commission that has lived up to the responsibility of being the guardian of this steel frame.”

Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that the year 2025 marks several historic milestones, the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and 150 years of the composition of Vande Mataram, making it a year deeply intertwined with India’s cultural, constitutional, and nationalist heritage. “It is, therefore, a matter of pride,” he said, “that UPSC’s centenary also falls in this historic year, linking the Commission’s journey with India’s broader story of democracy and governance.”

Applauding UPSC’s continuous evolution, Dr. Singh drew attention to several recent initiatives that reflect the Commission’s forward-looking approach. He especially commended UPSC’s ‘Pratibha Setu’ portal, which seeks to create new opportunities for candidates who have cleared the Civil Services examination stages but did not make it to final selection, by connecting them with private sector and institutional openings. He termed the move “an innovative bridge between talent and opportunity,” ensuring that India’s intellectual potential is not lost but leveraged for national development.

Dr. Singh also emphasised UPSC’s larger role beyond recruitment, framing and updating service rules, reviewing administrative practices, and setting ethical standards for public service. He expressed satisfaction that despite emerging challenges and debates around constitutional institutions, UPSC continues to uphold “the highest traditions of India’s constitutional values, meritocracy, and fairness.” Concluding his remarks, Dr. Singh said, “The architects of Viksit Bharat @2047 will emerge from this very institution that has trained generations of India’s finest civil servants.”

The two-day ‘Shatabdi Sammelan’ (Centenary Conclave) being organized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)on 26th–27th November 2025at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marks a monumental milestone in the Commission’s 100-year journey of nation-building. The event brings together present and former Chairpersons and Members of UPSC and State Public Service Commissions (PSCs), along with senior officials from across the Government of India, scholars, and distinguished personalities associated with governance and public administration.

Delivering the welcome address, UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar*extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and participants, describing the occasion as a “historic milestone in the UPSC’s glorious journey of a century.” He expressed gratitude to Hon’ble Speaker Shri Om Birla for delivering the keynote address and to Dr. Jitendra Singh for his constant guidance and support to the Commission. Reaffirming UPSC’s constitutional mandate, Dr. Kumar said, on this solemn Constitution Day, the Union Public Service Commission re-dedicates itself to the ideals of fairness, meritocracy, and equity in our recruitment, examination, and promotion systems.”

He also acknowledged the presence of former Chairpersons and Members of the Commission, calling them “luminaries who set the high bar for succeeding generations,” and emphasized the strong institutional bond between UPSC and State Public Service Commissions across India. “The UPSC,” he said, “will always remain the sacred temple of trust and integrity envisioned by the framers of our Constitution.”

In his keynote address, Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, extended heartfelt greetings on UPSC’s centenary and Constitution Day, calling the Commission “one of the most important institutions in India’s democratic and administrative framework.” He said that in its hundred-year journey, UPSC has embodied transparency, impartiality, confidentiality, and accountability, setting benchmarks not just for India but for governance systems worldwide.

Shri Birla observed that the Constituent Assembly, recognizing the need for independence and neutrality in public recruitment, enshrined UPSC’s autonomy in the Constitution, a principle the Commission has upheld with exemplary integrity. He lauded the institution’s ability to adapt to changing times**, citing reforms in examination systems, promotion methods, and digital adoption as examples of its progressive spirit.

Highlighting the inclusive nature of UPSC’s processes, the Speaker said, “Candidates from every region, language, and socio-economic background participate in this examination with complete faith in its fairness. That trust is the greatest testimony to UPSC’s credibility.”

Addressing future challenges, Shri Birla urged the Commission to continue evolving with emerging global realities such as artificial intelligence, climate change, cybersecurity, and national security. “The leadership emerging from this institution,” Shri Birla concluded, “has guided India’s executive system with sensitivity, ethics, and commitment to public service. As UPSC enters its second century, it will continue to play a defining role in shaping the future of governance in India.”

 

 

 

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