National Civil Services Day observed on April 21

Key facts

• National Civil Services Day is observed annually on April 21.
• The Government of India began celebrating National Civil Services Day in 2006 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
• The day commemorates the address by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the newly appointed officers of the Indian Civil Services on April 21, 1947, where he termed them the Steel Frame of India.
• The Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration is presented on this day, which includes a medal, scroll, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
• India's civil services include the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and various All-India and Central Services.
• Charles Cornwallis is referred to as the Father of Indian Civil Services for reforming and structuring the services and introducing the division between covenanted and uncovenanted services.
• Warren Hastings laid the foundations of the Indian Civil Services.