Become enablers not regulators, policymaking can't operate on outdated frameworks, PM Modi tells bureaucrats

Indian Express

21-04-2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday urged the bureaucracy to play the role of an enabler rather than a regulator to adapt to the country's new thinking and aspirations.
Addressing civil servants at the 17th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi, PM Modi said that his government is now working on policies that 'are going to shape the future of the next thousand years.' He added that with rapid changes underway globally, India's bureaucracy, policymaking cannot operate on outdated frameworks.
He also conferred the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration during the function.
'Our bureaucracy, our work, our policy making cannot continue in the old way. That is why after 2014, a very big Maha Yagya of system transformation has started in the country. We are adapting ourselves with this fast speed,' he said.
PM Modi said that the country has moved from the thinking that the role of the bureaucracy was that of a regulator. 'Today, we are creating such an environment that promotes enterprise among the citizens and helps them cross every barrier. Therefore, the civil service will have to become an enabler. It will have to expand itself not just as a keeper of the rule book but also as a facilitator of growth,' he said.
Speaking about the importance of delivery and the quality of governance rather than launching schemes, he said, 'I believe that quality in governance does not come just by launching schemes. Rather, quality in governance is determined by how deeply the scheme reached the people and how much real impact it had.' He said the civil services have to keep pace with the aspirations and needs of people, especially on last-mile delivery.
'Now the Civil Service will have to adapt itself according to the contemporary challenges, only then it can remain relevant. We will have to keep setting new standards for ourselves every day and keep passing every test,' he said.
Dwelling on the changes brought in by his government, PM Modi said that in the last 10 years, India has seen a journey from incremental change to impactful transformation. He said today India's governance model is focusing on next-generation reforms.
Speaking on cutting bureaucratic delays, he cited the efforts taken by his government to promote ease of doing business. To enable business, he said, the government eliminated more than 40,000 non-compliances, and decriminalised over 3,400 legal provisions.
'I remember, when we were working to reduce the burden of compliance, when we were decriminalizing some of the mistakes that happen during business, it was a surprise to me that there were voices of protest in some corners. Many people used to say, 'It has not happened till date, why are you doing it? It is working, let it be. What difference does it make to you? Let them comply, why are you increasing your work',' he said.
PM Modi added that India has ambitious goals for the coming years in all sectors, ranging from clean energy, energy security, to advancements in sports and space exploration. With these goals in mind, civil servants have an immense responsibility, he said, and urged them to prevent delays.
He added that in the last decade, the government has bridged the gap with citizens leveraging technology, innovation and new practices. 'Its impact is visible in rural and urban areas as well as remote areas,' he said.
However, he pointed out that in a technology-driven world, one should not forget the importance of human judgment, and urged civil servants not to forget the voice of the people. 'Be sensitive, listen to the voice of the poor, understand their problems, make solving them your priority. Just like Athiti devo bhava (guest is God), we have to move ahead with the mantra Naagrik devo bhava (citizen is God).'