President Droupadi Murmu on Friday inaugurated the National Conference for the Chairpersons of Public Service Commissions in Hyderabad and called upon Public Service Commissions (PSCs) to give the highest priority to honesty and integrity while recruiting civil servants.
Addressing the conference, organised by the Telangana Public Service Commission, the President said the Constitution accords special importance to Public Service Commissions, dedicating an entire part to services and their functioning, underscoring their critical role in governance at both Union and State levels.
She said that Constitutional ideals of social, economic and political justice, along with equality of status and opportunity, must guide the functioning of PSCs. Referring to the Preamble, the Fundamental Right to equality of opportunity in public employment and the Directive Principles of State Policy, the President said PSCs should not limit themselves to ensuring equality of opportunity alone but should also strive to achieve equality of outcomes, acting as agents of equity and social transformation.
Highlighting the importance of the “permanent executive”, the President said impartiality, continuity and stability in governance are ensured by civil servants selected through PSCs. She underlined that integrity, sensitivity and competence of civil servants are essential for effective implementation of people-centric policies at both national and state levels.
The President stressed that honesty and integrity of candidates are non-negotiable and must receive the highest priority during recruitment. While skill gaps can be addressed through training and learning interventions, she cautioned that a lack of integrity can create serious challenges that may be impossible to rectify.
She further said that aspiring civil servants should be motivated to work for marginalised and vulnerable sections of society and must be sensitive to the needs and aspirations of women. Emphasising gender sensitisation, the President said PSCs should accord it high priority in their recruitment and selection processes.
Noting that India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy and is progressing towards becoming the third-largest economy in the near future, the President said the country requires highly effective governance systems at all levels. She added that as India moves towards the goal of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, Public Service Commissions will play a crucial role in building a future-ready civil services cadre.
