As the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) marks its centenary, the journey of India’s civil services examination offers a window into how the country’s public institutions have evolved. From Satyendranath Tagore travelling to London in the 19th century to sit for an examination that Indians could not take at home, to a modern system using digital applications and AI-based facial recognition, the process has changed significantly in scale, access and method.

At the centenary event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked beyond the examination itself to the young Indians who compete for entry into public service each year. Emphasising "Nation First" and "Citizen First", he said India needs young people drawn to public service rather than public office and raised a question: should an examination assess not only what a candidate knows, but also why they want to serve? The question adds a dimension to a century-long evolution of one of India's most closely followed institutions.