UPSC Centenary: From Recruitment To Reforms

Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Bharat Mandapam in the National Capital, the Prime Minister said that the country needed young people who were drawn to public service rather than public office. He said the recruitment process should seek to identify candidates who combine knowledge and ability with a genuine commitment to serving the public.

“Recruitment examinations should assess not only what a candidate knows but also why the candidate wants to join the civil services,” Modi said, outlining what he described as the need for a broader understanding of suitability for public service.

UPSC’s 100-Year Institutional Journey 

The Prime Minister also used the occasion to reflect on the UPSC’s 100-year institutional journey and its role in shaping India’s administrative system. Recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution after Independence, Modi said the country needed a strong administrative “steel frame” to translate freedom into effective governance. 

Modi said the commission’s priorities had evolved with the country’s political and constitutional transformation. When the Public Service Commission was established in 1926, it operated under colonial rule and in circumstances very different from those of independent India. After 1947, he said, the aspirations of a free nation and the task of nation-building became central to public administration.

“While I was looking at the gallery, I noticed that Subhas Chandra Bose had also appeared for this examination in 1920,” Modi said, adding that the examination was held when the British were in power, and Bose had written the examination in Sanskrit.

The Prime Minister also released a book featuring 100 landmark decisions related to the UPSC. A commemorative coin and a special postage stamp were also issued to mark the commission’s centenary.

Reforms In Recruitment

The address came as the UPSC continues to introduce changes to its examination and recruitment systems. At the Civil Services Preliminary Examination held on May 24, 2026, face authentication was conducted for around 5.5 lakh candidates. The Commission has also introduced randomisation of interview boards, beginning with the Combined Medical Services Examination 2025.

The UPSC has further introduced the publication of a provisional answer key after the Preliminary Examination, giving candidates an opportunity to submit representations through an online portal. Candidates who clear all stages but do not make the final selection list can also be connected with potential employers through Pratibha Setu, which was revamped and renamed in June 2025.

Modi also highlighted the growing participation of women in the civil services examination. He said women accounted for just 3% of candidates in 1952, compared with around 30% today, describing the rise as evidence of expanding opportunities.

He also pointed to the representation of women at the highest level of the Commission. Four women have served as UPSC chairpersons: Rose Millian Bathew, Rajni Razdan, Preeti Sudan and Alka Sirohi. Modi noted that three of the four appointments came after 2014.

“This change is not only about numbers; it shows that the opportunities have increased,” he said.

A Century of Recruitment

The UPSC conducts around 250 recruitment examinations each year across sectors including engineering, medicine and defence. Established in 1926 as the Public Service Commission, it was renamed the Federal Public Service Commission in 1937 and became the Union Public Service Commission after the Constitution came into effect in 1950.

A century after its establishment, the Commission continues to serve as a key institution for recruiting personnel to India’s public services, while adapting its examination and selection processes to changing requirements.