PM Modi at UPSC centenary, urges nation-first, citizen-first

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Thursday, 1 October, marking 100 years since the first Public Service Commission was established on 1 October 1926. Times Now reports Modi released a commemorative coin, a stamp and a book titled ‘100 Landmark Judgements, Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India’ and told the gathering that the coming era would bring challenges such as deepfakes, algorithmic bias and climate justice. He urged aspirants to keep two principles in mind, ‘Nation First’ and ‘Citizen First’, and said citizens should be treated with the highest priority.

The two-day programme, which began on 30 September, featured panel discussions on public service and recruitment. Indian Express reports UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar stressed the need to assess candidates on reasoning, spontaneous thinking and judgment under ambiguity, and outlined three guiding principles: trust, transparency and technology. Women’s participation in the Civil Services Examination has risen from three women among 83 recommended candidates in 1952 to 299 out of 958 in CSE 2025, over 31%, Hindustan Times notes. The UPSC, established under Article 315 of the Constitution, currently comprises a chairman and 10 members.

Update, 1 October 2026: Times Now reports PM Modi told the gathering the coming era will bring challenges such as deepfakes, algorithmic bias and climate justice, and urged ‘Nation First, Citizen First’. Times of India adds detailed data on SC, ST and transgender representation in CSE results. Both confirm the PM's release of the commemorative coin, stamp and book.