Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event ended year-long celebrations that began on October 1 last year, 100 years after the UPSC was set up in 1926.

Modi described the commission’s journey as a celebration of the aspirations of millions of young Indians and the trust placed in it by the people.

He released a centenary commemorative coin, a stamp and a book titled “100 Landmark Judgements” on UPSC policy.

The Prime Minister said civil servants must be guided by two principles: “nation first” and “citizen first”. He said recruitment exams should test not only what candidates know, but also why they want to join the civil services.

Modi urged examination bodies to follow the principle of “time certainty”. He said an exam is directly linked to the future of young aspirants and that a delay of even a few months can create difficulties for them.

He said the next 20 to 25 years would be crucial for India and its institutions as the country works toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.