Prioritise poor, enable growth, PM Modi exhorts bureaucrats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called on civil servants to be sensitive to the concerns of the poor, emphasising that the policies being framed today will shape India’s future for the next 1,000 years. He added that the country’s aspirational society — comprising youth, farmers and women — has dreams that are soaring to unprecedented heights.

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Speaking at an event organised on Civil Services Day here, the PM said, “The policies we are working on today and the decisions we are making will shape the next millennium.” He stressed the need for “extraordinary speed” to meet the extraordinary aspirations of the people.

Modi urged bureaucrats to not just hear, but respect the voices of the poor and make resolving their issues a priority. “Be sensitive to their problems, respect their sensitivities,” he told the gathering.

The PM highlighted the holistic development approach of his government, asserting that “no village, no family and no citizen should be left behind”.

During the programme, Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district was among five that were honoured for successfully implementing key Central Government schemes such as Mission Indradhanush (immunisation) and ‘Har Ghar Nal Har Ghar Jal’ (tap water to every household).

Reflecting on the last decade, Modi said India has transitioned from “incremental change to impactful transformation.” He noted that governance now focuses on next-generation reforms, and that quality governance is judged by how deeply schemes reach people and their real-world impact.

Modi said the government has done away with more than 40,000 compliance requirements and decriminalised over 3,400 legal provisions to reduce bureaucratic delays.

“In the age of technology, governance is no longer about managing systems — it’s about multiplying possibilities,” he said.

Referring to India’s presidency of the G20 in 2023, Modi said the concept of “janbhagidari” (public participation) turned the summit into a mass movement, widely acknowledged by the world. “India is not just participating; it is leading,” he remarked.

Calling for a shift in the bureaucratic mindset, the PM said civil services must evolve from being mere regulators to becoming facilitators of growth. He noted that while bureaucracy once controlled the pace of industrialisation and entrepreneurship, the focus must now be on enabling enterprise and removing barriers for citizens.

“Civil servants must become enablers — expanding their role beyond the rule book to actively facilitating national development,” Modi said.