External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed newly inducted civil servants at the Guru Samman event hosted by Samkalp Foundation, urging them to play an active role in India’s transformative journey. He emphasized that the nation’s development milestones are not just statistical achievements but real changes that impact lives at scale.
Highlighting India’s massive housing initiative, Jaishankar pointed out that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the government has constructed 40 million homes over the past decade. This figure, he noted, is equivalent to providing housing for the entire population of Japan. Similarly, India’s food security efforts are unprecedented, with monthly nutrition support reaching more people than the combined populations of Europe and the United States under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
Jaishankar also spotlighted the country’s rapid infrastructure expansion. He mentioned that India is building seven new airports each year, along with opening one or two new metro systems annually. Additionally, India is laying 12 kilometers of railway tracks daily and constructing 28 kilometers of highways every day, reflecting the nation’s swift march toward modernization.
Sharing a personal anecdote, Jaishankar recalled his own civil services interview, which took place on March 21, 1977, coinciding with the historic day the Emergency was lifted in India. He noted this as a symbolic moment, underscoring the vital role of public service in nation-building.
Looking ahead, Jaishankar encouraged the civil services cohort to envision their contributions to India’s growth trajectory. He projected that by 2030, India will become the world’s third-largest economy, and by 2047, it will significantly narrow the gap with the second-largest. He urged the young officers to plan for the long term and consider how they will contribute to building a Viksit Bharat, or developed India.
In his closing remarks, Jaishankar emphasized that regardless of the service branch—be it foreign affairs, railways, police, or revenue—the shared mission is to serve the nation with dedication and integrity.
