**Executive Summary**
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) will observe the 18th Civil Services Day on April 21, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event, themed “Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance and Development at the Last Mile,” features a keynote address by Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan. It serves as an annual occasion for civil servants to rededicate themselves to public service and deliberate on key governance priorities and thematic sessions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Significance and Theme**
* **Historical Context:** The day commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1947 address to the first batch of All India Administrative Service probationers.
* **Core Objective:** To renew the commitment of civil servants to transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric administration.
* **2026 Theme:** Focused on “Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance and Development at the Last Mile,” aligning with the national vision for 2047.
**Session Highlights**
* **Inaugural Session:** Features addresses by the Minister of State (Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions) and the Cabinet Secretary.
* **Panel Discussion:** Titled ‘Role and effectiveness of civil services - An external perspective,’ involving experts from government, industry, and policy institutions.
* **Concluding Session:** A final address by the Cabinet Secretary focusing on ‘Ethics and Efficiency in Civil Services.’
**Thematic Breakaway Sessions**
* **Sustainable Livelihood:** Focused on the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme, chaired by the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
* **Healthcare:** Addressing ‘Non-Communicable Diseases’ from preventive measures to care, chaired by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
* **Agricultural Risk:** Mitigating financial risks for farmers through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and other initiatives, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
* **Green Energy:** Accelerating India’s path to net-zero carbon emissions through the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.’
**Participation**
* **Attendees:** Includes senior Union Government officials (Secretaries to Assistant Secretaries), State Government officials (Chief Secretaries to District Collectors), and Heads of Central Training Institutions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Civil Servants (Central and State)**
**Impact**
Officers are provided a platform to align their work with the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision and engage in best-practice exchanges regarding last-mile service delivery.
**Action Required**
Participate in the day-long event, attend thematic sessions, and rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen-centric governance.
**Union Ministries (Personnel, MSME, Health, and Agriculture)**
**Impact**
These departments are responsible for leading high-level deliberations on specific national priorities and schemes like PM Vishwakarma and PM Surya Ghar.
**Action Required**
Respective Ministers and senior officials must chair designated sessions and lead discussions on enhancing accountability and innovation in their sectors.
**Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)**
**Impact**
As the organizing body, DARPG is responsible for the successful execution of the national observance and the coordination of various breakaway sessions.
**Action Required**
Coordinate the logistics at Vigyan Bhawan and ensure the participation of relevant stakeholders from across the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Civil Services Day: An annual occasion observed on April 21 for civil servants to rededicate themselves to public service and excellence in governance.
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG): The nodal department under the Ministry of Personnel responsible for organizing the 18th Civil Services Day and overseeing administrative reforms.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The Government of India's vision to transform the nation into a developed country by 2047, which serves as the thematic framework for the event.
PM Vishwakarma: A central scheme focused on providing sustainable livelihoods to artisans and craftspeople, highlighted as a key governance priority.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: A government initiative aimed at accelerating India’s net-zero goals through the provision of rooftop solar and free electricity.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Hon’ble Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan
to address the Nation’s Civil Servants on 18th
Civil Services Day on April 21, 2026
Posted On: 20 APR 2026 12:47PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions will observe 18th Civil Services Day on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Hon’ble
Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, will grace the event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi as
the Chief Guest. He will deliver the keynote address.
The Civil Services Day is observed annually as an occasion for the Civil Servants across India to
rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and
excellence in their work. On this day in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of the
All India Administrative Service where he described civil servants as the steel frame of India. The
occasion provides an opportunity for civil servants to renew their commitment to citizen-centric
administration. The theme for the Civil Services Day 2026 is “Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance
and Development at the Last Mile”. It is aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and underscores the
Government’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance, with a strong
emphasis on last-mile delivery, and inclusive development.
The inaugural session will include an address by the Hon’ble Minister of State in the Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh and a welcome address by Cabinet
Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan. The inaugural session will be followed by a panel discussion on the ‘Role
and effectiveness of civil services - An external perspective’ which will bring together eminent
personalities from government, industry, and policy institutions to deliberate on enhancing accountability,
innovation, and service delivery in governance.
The four Breakaway Sessions scheduled during the event will feature focused thematic deliberations on
key governance priorities. The session on ‘Sustainable Livelihood through PM Vishwakarma’ will be
chaired by Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, Hon’ble Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The
session on ‘Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in India: From Preventive to Care’ will be chaired
by Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare. The session on ‘Mitigating
Financial Risk of Farmers through KCC and other initiatives’ will be chaired by Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan, Hon’bleMinister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. There will be a dedicated session on
‘Accelerating India’s Net-Zero Path through PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’. These sessions will bring
together senior officials, experts, and stakeholders for in-depth discussions and exchange of best practices
towards strengthening citizen-centric governance and improving last-mile service delivery. The event will
conclude with an address by the Cabinet Secretary on ‘Ethics and Efficiency in Civil Services.’
Senior Officials of Government of India including Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries,
Deputy Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Senior Officials of State Governments including Chief
Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Heads of Central Training Institutions,Resident commissioners, Officials of Central Services and District Collectors will participate in the day-
long event.
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