Welcome Address by Prof. K.S.

Chalam, Hon’ble Member

Your Excellency President Madam Pratibha Devisingh Patilji,

Hon’ble Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri

Prithvi Raj Chavan, Hon’ble Chairman, UPSC Prof. D.P. Agrawal, Hon’ble

Members of UPSC and distinguished guests and friends.

Good Afternoon!

I am really privileged to have the pleasant task of welcoming the

distinguished gathering for today’s inaugural lecture on the occasion of

UPSC Foundation Day Annual Lecture Series on ‘Governance and Public

Service’. On behalf of the Union Public Service Commission and on my

own behalf, I warmly and respectfully welcome the Chief Guest, Hon’ble

President. We are highly honoured that our Hon’ble President is amongst

us today. We are indeed grateful to President for graciously and readily

accepting our invitation. We are eagerly looking forward to hearing her

address on Governance and Public Service today. In fact, we drew

inspiration from the Address of the Hon’ble President to the nation on the

eve of the 63rd Independence Day this year wherein it was said,

“……..the emphasis on reform of governance for

effective delivery of public services is critical to change
the lives of the people. The administrators must be
responsive to the needs of the people. Their work is a
public service – commitment, dedication and honesty
should be the hallmarks of their work.”
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2. The idea of a lecture series on Governance, and the topic for this

afternoon’s address by the Chief Guest, assumes contemporary relevance

in the larger context of the rising expectations of the people for an effective

delivery of programmes, benefits and services that are critical for people’s

welfare, as emphasized by our Hon’ble President in her Address a few

weeks before. As one of the original constitutional structures to translate

the vision of our founding fathers to create an independent civil service,

UPSC was entrusted with the task of conducting examinations for

appointment to services of the Union. The constitution enjoins the Govt.

that the Commission shall be consulted on all matters relating to

recruitment, promotions and on all disciplinary matters affecting civil

servants. We humbly submit that the Commission has developed several

traditions and good practices in discharging its constitutional obligations for

the last six decades. It is hoped that today’s inaugural lecture, and the

future lectures to follow, will stimulate thinking with regard to the challenges

facing the administrative and governance structures. India has no doubt

made impressive progress in many areas. However, there cannot be any

complacency in ensuring that the fruits of development are distributed

evenly so that every citizen lives a life of dignity. There have been many

initiatives in recent times to address the pressing matters of administrative

reforms, and this lecture will add an important and timely input to the

process.
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3. The establishment of the Union Public Service Commission was the

fructification of the demand for indianising the superior civil service that was

established by the British in 1926. The importance of the civil service in the

overall scheme of governance is well articulated so succinctly by Shri M.

Ananthasayanam Ayyangar in the Constituent Assembly debates, “…… a

healthy, efficient and honest public service is the very backbone of a

Government…….”.

4. The Constitution-makers made elaborate provisions for ensuring that

jobbery and nepotism do not cast their evil shadow on the process of

recruitment of civil servants by creating an independent Public Service

Commission. It is a matter of quiet satisfaction that the Union Public

Service Commission has largely fulfilled the Constitutional mandate. Many

challenges, however, remain, chief among them being the reorientation of

the recruitment and human resource development process of government

to face the emerging challenges of inclusive policy.

5. India has been conceived as a Union of States, and there is an

imperative need for the Central and State Governments to fulfil the dream

of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who saw the Indian polity as marked by the

distinguishing feature of a “flexible Federation”. The All India Services and

other civil services have a fundamental role in ensuring that the federation

works with a firm resolve in undertaking the developmental activity. In this

context, the Commission has initiated the present Foundation Day Lecture
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Series as a small yet important measure to the larger process of reform

and change that characterizes the larger environment in India today.

6. On behalf of the Commission I extend a very warm welcome to Shri

Prithviraj Chavanji, Hon’ble MoS (PP). Apart from being the coordinating

agency of the Central Government in matters of personnel policy, the

Ministry of Personnel is also the nodal Ministry for UPSC. The Commission

cherishes its close working relationship with the Ministry of Personnel, and

is grateful to Shri Chavanji for gracing this occasion.

7. It is heartening to note the impressive turn out at this function. I

extend a cordial welcome to each and every member of the distinguished

audience. It is indeed a pleasure to have you all here today. I am sure that

we all will be benefited greatly by paying thoughtful attention to the

inaugural lecture to be delivered by Hon’ble President in a few minutes

from now.

Thanking you.