UPSC Centenary Talks Focus on Recruitment and Technology

The Union Public Service Commission’s centenary programme brought officials and public-service leaders together to discuss recruitment, institutional values and potential uses of technology, while Chairman Ajay Kumar said future assessments should test candidates’ reasoning and judgment rather than reliance on predictable or coached answers. The two-day celebrations were held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 30 and October 1, 2026. Kumar described trust, transparency and technology as guiding principles for the commission’s next phase. He said the UPSC should adapt to changing circumstances while preserving merit, fairness and equal opportunity, according to remarks reported from the event. He did not announce a specific examination-format change or implementation timetable, and the discussions did not establish that the proposed assessment priorities had been adopted as formal policy. Sessions examined the evolving role of civil services and ways to improve public administration. Speakers discussed the potential for artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital systems to reduce bureaucratic friction and improve service delivery.