Transition to Service, PM Dedicates ‘Seva Teerth’
India marked a historic shift in its administrative identity on February 13 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), named ‘Seva Teerth’, to the nation. This move signals the beginning of the end for the colonial-era North and South Blocks as active centers of governance, as they transition into the ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ National Museum.
The inauguration of Seva Teerth and the accompanying Kartavya Bhavans represents the government’s vision of moving from a culture of “power” to a culture of “service.” The Prime Minister emphasized that while the South Block witnessed nearly a century of defining decisions—from Partition to the abrogation of Article 370—the new complex is designed as a modern, technology-enabled workspace for a “Developed India” (Viksit Bharat).
On the legislative front, the first phase of the Budget Session concluded on a high-voltage note. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned for a three-week recess, scheduled to reassemble on March 9. This break will allow parliamentary standing committees to scrutinize the massive ₹53.5 lakh crore Union Budget allocations and demands for grants.
The final day of the session was marked by intense political friction. The government decided to drop a proposed motion against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, choosing instead to let a substantive motion by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey proceed regarding controversial remarks made during the budget speech. Opposition parties staged protests at the Parliament complex, raising concerns over international trade negotiations and agricultural policies.
Simultaneously, the Union Cabinet approved a significant ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to drive market-led transformation in Indian cities. This fiscal move, alongside the approval of new metro corridors and the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, underscores the administration’s focus on infrastructure and deep-tech innovation as the country heads into the second phase of the budget deliberations.
