New Delhi, Oct 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted a historical detail about India’s civil services examinations, saying that even during British rule, the examination included a Sanskrit paper.
Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at Bharat Mandapam, Modi referred to an archival exhibition showcasing the history of the civil services examination.
He said the exhibition contained records showing that freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose appeared for the civil services examination in 1920 and wrote a Sanskrit paper.
“Although India was under British rule at the time, there used to be a Sanskrit paper in the examination, and Subhas Babu wrote this paper,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the contributions of several historical figures to India’s public service institutions and said the examination system had evolved over the past century into a legacy of public trust.
He encouraged young civil services aspirants and visitors to explore the exhibition to understand the historical journey of India’s civil services system.
As part of the UPSC’s 100-year celebrations, Modi also released a commemorative coin, a postage stamp and a book documenting landmark decisions and developments related to public service commissions in India.
