18th Civil Services Day
Syllabus: GS2/ Governance
Context
- The 18th Civil Services Day was celebrated on April 21, 2026.
- This day is observed annually in India to recognize the contributions of civil servants and to allow them to recommit themselves to public service.
- 2026 Theme – Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance and Development at the Last Mile”.
- Significance: The day (instituted in 2006) honors Sardar Patel’s 1947 address to the first IAS batch, where he dubbed civil servants the “steel frame of India”.
- Organiser: The event is conducted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)
Constitutional Provisions of Civil Services
- Article 309 empowers Parliament and State Legislatures to regulate recruitment and conditions of service.
- Article 310 of the Constitution states that civil servants of the Union and the States hold office during the pleasure of the President or the Governor,
- Article 311 provides safeguards for civil servants against arbitrary dismissal.
- Article 312 outlines the process for creating All India Services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS).
- Articles 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution establish Public Service Commissions (PSCs) for both the Union (UPSC) and each state (SPSC).
History of Civil Services in India
- Lord Cornwallis is considered as ‘Father of Civil Services in India’.
- Lord Wellesley founded the College of Fort William in Calcutta in 1800 to educate young recruits for the Civil Services.
- Note – Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to clear ICS in 1864.
Governance reforms to enhance efficiency of bureaucracy
- Mission Karmayogi National Program: It is a flagship programme of Government of India launched in 2020 for training of civil servants.
- e-Governance Initiatives: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for grievance redressal, SPARROW for performance appraisal, and digitization of service records.
Adi Shankaracharya
Syllabus: GS1/ History
In News
- The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Adi Shankaracharya on his Jayanti.
Adi Shankaracharya (approximately 788–820 CE)
- Born in Kalady, Kerala.
- He is credited with reviving Hinduism and unifying India’s diverse spiritual strands through the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.
Core Philosophy: Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism)
- Concept of Brahman: Asserts that the ultimate reality is Brahman, which is formless (Nirguna), infinite, and the only truth (Brahma Satyam).
- Atman and Brahman: Taught that the individual soul (Atman) is fundamentally identical to Brahman. The perceived separation is an illusion.
- Maya: Explained the empirical world as Maya (illusion), a creative power that makes the singular reality appear as a multitude.
- Path to Liberation: Emphasised Gyan (knowledge) over ritualistic actions as the primary means to achieve Moksha (liberation).
Major Contributions & Legacy
- Establishment of Mathas: To unify the country and preserve Vedic thought, he founded four primary monasteries (Mathas) in the cardinal directions:
- North: Jyotir Math (Badrinath/Joshimath, Uttarakhand) — custodian of the Atharva Veda.
- South: Sringeri Sharada Peetham (Karnataka) — custodian of the Yajur Veda.
- East: Govardhana Math (Puri, Odisha) — custodian of the Rig Veda.
- West: Dwarka Sharada Peetham (Gujarat) — custodian of the Sama Veda.
- Shanmata System: Synthesised the worship of six major deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Surya, and Skanda), reducing sectarian conflicts.
- Dashanami Sampradaya: Organised a monastic order for renunciates, which remains influential today.
Important Literary Works
- Commentaries (Bhashyas): Wrote the Brahmasutrabhasya (oldest surviving commentary on the Brahma Sutras), along with commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and 12 major Upanishads.
- Philosophical Treatises: Includes Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bodha, and Upadesa Sahasri.
- Devotional Hymns (Stotras): Composed works like Bhaja Govindam, Nirvana Shatakam, and Saundarya Lahari.
SMILE Scheme
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The SMILE Scheme is transforming lives across India by promoting inclusive rehabilitation and social reintegration of vulnerable communities.
Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)
- Launched in – 2022
- Implementation – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Objective – to support vulnerable groups at every stage, from identification and rescue to healthcare, rehabilitation, education, counselling, skill development, and long-term economic independence.
Features –
- One of its components was the sub-scheme to identify, profile, and rehabilitate individuals engaged in the act of begging with their consent.
- The other component of the scheme is for the empowerment of transgender persons.
Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary Designated as New Ramsar Sites
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- India designated Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as its 99th Ramsar Site, with Uttar Pradesh now having 12th sites on the list.
Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary
- Location – It is a freshwater wetland ecosystem, formed by the Upper Ganges Canal in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
- It is a key habitat for migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway and wintering ground for species such as Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork and various species of ducks and waterfowl.
India’s Latest Additions in Ramasar site
- Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan): 95th Ramsar site
- Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh): 96th Ramsar Sites
- Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh): 97th Ramsar Sites
- Chhari-Dhand Conservation Reserve (Gujarat): 98th Ramsar Sites
Connect with the basics – Ramsar Convention
- A Ramsar site is a wetland designated as one of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Ramsar Convention – It is one of the inter-governmental accords to preserve the wetlands of international importance.
- It was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and came into force in 1975.
- India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
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