Quality Civil Services Key to Viksit Bharat: VP Radhakrishnan
C P Radhakrishnan stresses merit, ethics and transparency at PSC conference in Hyderabad
- Vice-President highlights nation-building role of Public Service Commissions
- Says quality of civil services will define Viksit Bharat@2047
- Calls for zero tolerance to malpractice in recruitment
- Urges ethical, transparent and merit-based selection
GG News Bureau
Hyderabad, 20th Dec: Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday said that the quality of civil services would be decisive in shaping India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047, underscoring the pivotal role of Public Service Commissions (PSCs) in nation-building.
Addressing the valedictory session of the National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions in Hyderabad, the Vice-President said PSCs are constitutional institutions entrusted with the critical responsibility of selecting competent, impartial and ethical individuals to run the country’s governance systems.
He said the independence of Public Service Commissions, guaranteed by the Constitution, has been central to protecting merit, fairness and transparency in public recruitment. Over the decades, PSCs at both Union and state levels have strengthened public trust by ensuring administrative continuity, institutional stability and unbiased selection of civil servants.
Highlighting the changing demands on governance, Radhakrishnan said the successful implementation of national priorities — including digital governance, social inclusion, infrastructure development, climate action and economic transformation — depends on the quality of administrators being recruited today.
Emphasising ethical standards, the Vice-President said impartiality is the moral foundation of public recruitment and transparency is essential to eliminate bias. “Merit must not only be upheld, it must be seen to be upheld,” he said, warning that even isolated irregularities can erode institutional credibility. He called for zero tolerance towards malpractice in public examinations.
He also noted that effective governance now requires civil servants with emotional intelligence, leadership skills, ethical judgment and teamwork abilities, in addition to academic competence. He suggested that PSCs could consider fair and structured assessments of behavioural and ethical competencies alongside traditional knowledge-based examinations.
Stressing that recruitment alone cannot ensure lifelong excellence, the Vice-President said performance appraisal systems, vigilance mechanisms and periodic reviews must function objectively and transparently to maintain institutional integrity. He added that character and ethical conduct form the bedrock of public trust and nation-building.
Referring to India’s demographic dividend, Radhakrishnan encouraged Public Service Commissions to adopt innovative approaches to talent mapping and employability, including initiatives similar to Pratibha Setu, to ensure the right talent is matched with the right responsibilities.
Concluding his address, the Vice-President expressed confidence that Public Service Commissions would continue to strengthen the foundations of good governance and play a central role in India’s journey towards a Viksit and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
