- Every year,21stApril is celebrated as the Civil Services Day by the Government of India.
- It is celebrated as an occasion for the civil servantsto rededicate themselves to the causes of citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
- Civil Service word date back to the British time when British East India Company civilian staffs involved in administrative jobs and were known as ‘Public Servants’. Its foundation has been laid by Warren Hastings and later more reforms were done by Charles Cornwallis and so he was known as the “Father of Civil Services in India”.
- The date is chosen to commemoratethe day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of probationers of Administrative Services Officers of Independent India in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.
- He referred to civil servants as the ‘Steel Frame of India’.
- Thefirst function on civil services day was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 2006.
- On this day, thePrime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation categories.
- These awards bring together civil servants to connect with each other and learn the good practices being implemented across the nation in the field of public grievance.
- Civil Service in India consists of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and comprehensive list of All India Services and Central Services Group A and Group B.
- 21 April is dedicated to the Civil Service people to commemorate their exemplary services and to reflect back what they have done years back.
