Welcome Address by Prof. K.S.

Chalam, Honble Member

Your Excellency President Madam Pratibha Devisingh Patilji, Honble Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri Prithvi Raj Chavan, Honble Chairman, UPSC Prof. D.P. Agrawal, Honble 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 todays 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, Honble President. We are highly honoured that our Honble 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 Honble 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.

2.

The idea of a lecture series on Governance, and the topic for this

afternoons 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 peoples welfare, as emphasized by our Honble 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 todays 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.

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

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, Honble 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 Honble President in a few minutes from now.

Thanking you.