All colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Hon’ble Members of Parliament present here, all government employees, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen!

The month of August — the month of revolution — and before the 15th of August, this historic occasion! One after another, we are witnessing achievements connected with the building of a modern Bharat. Right here in the national capital Delhi, we have seen the Kartavya Path, the new Sansad Bhavan (Parliament House), the new Raksha Bhavan (Defence Office Complex), Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi, the National War Memorial dedicated to the martyrs, the statue of Netaji Subhas Babu, and now this Kartavya Bhavan. These are not merely new buildings or ordinary infrastructure — it will be within these very buildings that the policies for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) will be shaped in this Amrit Kaal, important decisions for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be taken, and from here the direction of the nation will be determined for decades to come. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all of you and to all my fellow countrymen on the inauguration of Kartavya Bhavan. From this very stage today, I also thank all the engineers and all the worker colleagues who were involved in its construction.

Friends,

After much deliberation, we have named this building “Kartavya Bhavan”. Names like Kartavya Path and Kartavya Bhavan proclaim the very essence of our democracy and our Constitution. In the Gita, Lord Shri Krishna says: न मे पार्थ अस्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन, नान-वाप्तं अ-वाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि॥ — meaning, we should rise above the thinking of “what we have to achieve” or “what we have not yet achieved,” and act with the spirit of duty. The word “Kartavya” (duty) is not limited to responsibility alone in Indian culture. Kartavya is the core spirit of our action-oriented philosophy — a grand vision that goes beyond the self and embraces the whole. That is the true definition of Kartavya. Therefore, Kartavya is not just the name of a building — it is the sacred ground where the dreams of crores of Indians will be realised. Kartavya is the beginning, and Kartavya is the destiny. Work that is tied with the bond of compassion and dedication — that is Kartavya. Kartavya is the companion of dreams, the hope of resolutions, the peak of hard work, the willpower that lights a lamp in every life. Kartavya is the foundation for protecting the rights of millions of countrymen; it is the flagbearer of Mother India’s vital energy; it is the chanting of the mantra नागरिक देवो भव: (Citizen is God); and it is every act performed with devotion towards the nation.

Friends,

For decades after independence, the country’s administrative machinery continued to function out of buildings that were constructed during British rule. You also know how poor the working conditions were in these administrative buildings built decades ago — and we just saw a glimpse of that in the video. Those working there neither have enough space, nor proper lighting, nor adequate ventilation. You can imagine — an important ministry like the Home Ministry has been operating for nearly 100 years in the same building with inadequate resources. Not only that — different ministries of the Government of Bharat are operating from 50 different locations across Delhi, and many of these ministries are housed in rented buildings. The rent being paid for these is in itself a huge figure. In fact, if you calculate the total, it’s massive — but even with a rough estimate, it amounts to about 1,500 crore rupees per year. This is the amount the Government of Bharat spends annually just on rent for various ministries. There’s another issue. Naturally, due to work requirements, employees have to commute from one ministry to another. It is estimated that every day, 8,000 to 10,000 employees have to travel from one ministry to another. This involves the movement of hundreds of vehicles, additional expenses, increased road traffic, wastage of time — and all of this leads to nothing but inefficiency in work.

Friends,

Bharat of the 21st century needs modern systems for the 21st century — and it also needs buildings of the same standard. Buildings that are excellent in terms of technology, security, and convenience. Buildings where employees feel comfortable, decisions are taken quickly, and services are easily accessible. That is why, with a holistic vision for the area around Kartavya Path, grand buildings like Kartavya Bhavan are being constructed. This is the first Kartavya Bhavan that has been completed; the construction of many more is progressing rapidly. Once these offices are shifted close to each other, employees will get a proper working environment, necessary facilities, and their total work output will also increase. And the 1,500 crore rupees that the government currently spends on rent will also be saved.

Friends,

This magnificent Kartavya Bhavan, these projects, the new Defence Complex, and all of the country’s major infrastructure projects — they are not only proof of Bharat’s pace of progress, but also a reflection of Bharat’s global vision. They show how Bharat is embracing the very visions it presents to the world. This is visible in our infrastructure development. We have given the world Mission LiFE; we have presented the idea of One Earth, One Sun, One Grid to the world — these are visions that hold hope for the future of humanity. And today, you can see that our modern infrastructure, such as Kartavya Bhavan, is infrastructure whose soul is pro-people, and whose structure is pro-planet. Kartavya Bhavan has solar panels installed on its rooftop; advanced systems have been integrated for waste management. The vision of green buildings is now expanding in Bharat.

Friends,

Our government is engaged in the nation’s reconstruction with a holistic vision. Today, no part of the country is untouched by the stream of development. If a new Parliament building has been constructed in Delhi, then over 30,000 panchayat buildings have also been built across the country. Here, a building like Kartavya Bhavan is being constructed, while at the same time, more than four crore permanent houses have been built for the poor. Here, a National War Memorial and a Police Memorial have been built, while across the country, more than 300 new medical colleges have been established. Here, Bharat Mandapam has been built, while more than 1,300 new Amrit Bharat railway stations are being developed across the nation. The grandeur of Yashobhoomi here can also be seen in the nearly 90 new airports that have been built in the past 11 years.

Friends,

Mahatma Gandhi used to say that rights and duties are interconnected. It is only through the fulfilment of duties that our rights are strengthened. We expect citizens to perform their duties, but for the government too, duty is of the highest priority. And when a government fulfils its duties with sincerity, it is reflected in governance. You all know that the past decade has been a decade of good governance in the country. Good governance and the flow of development stem from the source of reforms. Reforms are a consistent and time-bound process. That is why the country has continuously undertaken major reforms. Our reforms are consistent, dynamic, and forward-looking. Strengthening the relationship between the government and the people, improving ease of living, prioritising the underprivileged, empowering women, improving the functioning of government — the country is continuously working in these directions through innovative means. We are proud that the country has developed a governance system in the past 11 years that is transparent, sensitive, and citizen-centric.

Friends,

Wherever I go in the world, the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile — the JAM Trinity — is widely discussed. It is praised globally. It has made the delivery of government schemes in Bharat transparent and free from leakages. People are astonished to learn that in the country — whether it was ration cards, gas subsidy recipients, or scholarship beneficiaries — there were nearly 10 crore beneficiaries whose births had never even occurred. Yes, you will be shocked by this figure — 10 crore fake beneficiaries in whose names the previous governments were sending money, which was then landing in the accounts of middlemen. This government has removed all 10 crore such fake names. The latest figure shows that this has saved the country more than 4.3 lakh crore rupees from going into the wrong hands. Just imagine — a theft of 4.3 lakh crore rupees — now this money is being used for the development of the nation. This means both the beneficiaries are happy, and the nation’s resources have been preserved.

Friends,

It was not only corruption and leakages — unnecessary rules and regulations also used to trouble citizens. They slowed down the government’s decision-making process. That is why we have abolished more than 1,500 old laws. Many of these laws dated back to the British era and, even after so many decades, were still acting as obstacles. Our country has also had a huge burden of legal compliance. To start any work, one had to submit dozens of documents. Over the past 11 years, more than 40,000 compliances have been removed. And this work is not yet complete — it is still continuing.

Friends,

Senior secretaries of the Government of Bharat are present here, and you are well aware of how, earlier, in many departments and ministries, there used to be overlapping responsibilities and powers. This led to decisions being stalled and work getting delayed. We integrated various departments to eliminate duplication. Some ministries were merged, and where necessary, new ministries were created — for example, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was established to ensure water security; the Ministry of Cooperation was created to strengthen the cooperative movement; for the first time, a separate Ministry of Fisheries was established; and for our youth, the Ministry of Skill Development was formed. These decisions have increased the government’s efficiency and sped up delivery.

Friends,

We are also working to upgrade the government’s work culture. Through digital platforms like Mission Karmayogi and i-GOT, our government employees are being technically empowered. E-office systems, file tracking, and digital approvals are creating a framework that is both faster and traceable.

Friends,

When we move into a new home, there is a fresh excitement within us, and our energy multiplies many times over. Now, with that same enthusiasm, you will carry forward your responsibilities in this new building. Whatever position you hold, work in a way that makes your tenure memorable. When you leave here, it should feel as if you gave your hundred percent in the service of the nation.

Friends,

We also need to change our perspective towards files. A file, a complaint, an application — these may seem like routine, everyday matters. But for someone, that single piece of paper could be their hope; a single file could be connected to the lives of many people. For example, if there is a file that affects 100,000 people, and it is delayed on your desk for even one day, it means a loss of 100,000 human-days. When you see your work from this perspective, you will realise that beyond any convenience or personal thought, it is a huge opportunity to serve. If you generate a new idea, you might be laying the foundation for a major transformation. With this spirit of duty, all of us must always remain dedicated to nation-building. We must always remember — it is in the womb of duty that the dreams of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ are nurtured.

Friends,

Although today is not an occasion for criticism, it is certainly an occasion for introspection. Many countries that became independent around the same time as us have progressed rapidly. But Bharat could not advance at that pace — there must have been many reasons. Now, however, it is our responsibility not to leave problems for future generations. From the old buildings, the decisions we took and the policies we made gave us the courage to lift 25 crore of our citizens out of poverty. The fact that 25 crore people have come out of poverty is a great achievement — but even after every success, I keep thinking of something new. Now, in these new buildings, with greater efficiency, we must work with the mindset of giving as much as possible to the country, so that we can completely free Bharat from poverty. From these very buildings, the dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be realised. This goal will be achieved only through the combined efforts of all of us. Together, we must make Bharat the world’s third-largest economy. Together, we must write the success stories of Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Our resolve should be to scale up our own productivity and that of the nation. When it comes to tourism, people from all over the world should come to Bharat; when it comes to brands, the world’s eyes should be on Indian brands; when it comes to education, students from across the globe should come to study in Bharat. Strengthening Bharat’s power should be the mission of our lives.

Friends,

When successful nations move forward, they do not abandon their positive legacy — they preserve it. Today, Bharat is progressing with this very vision of ‘Vikas and Virasat’ (development and heritage). After the new Kartavya Bhavan, the North and South Blocks will also become part of Bharat’s great legacy. The North and South Blocks are being transformed into “Yuge Yugeen Bharat” — a museum for the people of the country. Every citizen will be able to visit and witness the historical journey of our nation. I am confident that all of us, too, will carry the inspiration and heritage of this place with us as we enter the Kartavya Bhavan. Once again, I extend my heartiest congratulations to all my fellow countrymen on the inauguration of Kartavya Bhavan.

Thank you very much.

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MJPS/VJ/VK