Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s digital and rural transformations and highlighted the abolishment of outdated rules during National Civil Services Day. Modi also conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, with Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur receiving recognition for ensuring tap water supply in every district household through the Har Ghar Jal Yojana initiative. The National Civil Services Day celebrates administrators and officials who work to improve citizens’ lives.

On National Civil Services Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the country’s progress in digital payments and cheap mobile data, as well as the transformation of the rural economy. He also criticized the previous system for allowing over 4 crore fake gas connections and ration cards. Union Minister Jitendra Singh discussed the importance of abolishing confusing rules that no longer hold validity. During the event, PM Modi also presented the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, recognizing outstanding performance in four priority programs: promoting Swachh Jal, promoting Swasth Bharat, promoting quality education, and promoting holistic development in aspirational districts. Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh was awarded for its tap water scheme, which ensured tap water for over 1 lakh households in 254 villages through the Har Ghar Jal Yojana program. The date of April 21 was chosen for National Civil Services Day in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, who addressed civil service probationers on that day in 1947.