Every year April 21 is observed as Civil Services Day since it was on this day Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, addressed the first batch of civil servants in Independent India at the Metcalf House where he referred to civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’.

On the occasion of the Civil Services Day, ‘Prime Minister Award for Excellence in Public Administration’  instituted with a view to acknowledge, recognise and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by officers of Central and State Governments .