NEW DELHI, April 22 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged over one crore civil servants to place the principle of citizen-centric governance at the core of decision-making, stressing that public service must be driven by compassion and continuous learning.

In letters written on April 20 ahead of Civil Services Day, Modi emphasized that governance should reflect the spirit of 'Nagrikdevo Bhava' - treating citizens as paramount - and called on officials to serve people to the best of their abilities.

The letters, issued in 12 languages, were circulated across ministries, departments, states and Union Territories to ensure wider outreach.

Highlighting the evolving global landscape, Modi said the 21st century presents both challenges a...