Calling it a milestone in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The Prime Minister said these are not mere structures or pieces of infrastructure, but that the seed of Viksit Bharat will be sown from this building. He stated that the Kartavya Bhavan will not only help in faster delivery of policies and schemes but will also give fresh momentum to the nation's development.
Quoting from the Bhagavad Gita, PM Modi said that we must focus more on our kartavya (duty) than on the end result while carrying out our tasks.
"We gave the name 'Kartavya Bhavan' to this building after a lot of deliberation," PM Modi said while addressing a gathering at Kartavya Path. "The names Kartavya Path and Kartavya Bhavan represent the basic values of our democracy and Constitution." The Prime Minister said the choice of name marks a clear departure from India's colonial-era administrative culture. For decades, ministries operated from buildings constructed during British rule, like Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, many of which are now over 70 years old and lack basic amenities.
The prime minister said that his Government will utilise 'Kartavya Bhavans' as instruments to help liberate the country from poverty, and will also realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat. 'Kartavya' is not just the name of a building, it is a sacred ground for realising the dreams of millions of countrymen, he said.
Speaking at an event at Kartavya Path hours after inaugurating Kartavya Bhavan, PM Modi said, "We are witnessing the achievements related to the creation of modern India... Kartavya Path, New Parliament House, New Raksha Bhawan, Bharat Mandapam, National War Memorial, and now Kartavya Bhavan — these are not just ordinary infrastructures. Here, policies of Viksit Bharat will be formulated, and important decisions will be made. In the times to come, the direction of the nation will be decided from here."
The Prime Minister also underlined the symbolic relevance of inaugurating the building in August, calling it "the month of revolution," just days ahead of Independence Day. "This is one major mark before August 15," he said, highlighting the continuity of India's development efforts with the spirit of national freedom.
He said the Government's aim is not merely to build infrastructure, but to create spaces where responsibility and nation-building take centre stage.
"We have to work together to write the success story of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It should be our resolve that we will scale up our and the country's productivity," PM Modi said.
PM Modi also pointed out the shortcomings of existing office buildings, which he said lacked adequate space, lighting and ventilation. "These buildings lacked space, light, ventilation, and were not built to meet the needs of a modern democratic Government," PM Modi said. "Important ministries like home affairs were functioning from buildings over a century old."By naming the new power corridor Kartavya Bhavan, Modi said the Government is signaling a shift from entitlement to responsibility. "This is not just a name; it's a message. That governance in India is now driven by the spirit of service and duty, not authority and privilege," he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the new Kartavya Bhavan structures will bring all central ministries and offices closer together, resulting in annual savings of around Rs 1,500 crore.
"We have to work together to write the success story of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It should be our resolve that we will scale up our and the country's productivity," he said.
PM Modi said it was also a moment for introspection as India could not develop at the same pace as many other countries, which got independence around the time it did and progressed ahead. "It is our responsibility that we should not leave current problems to future generations," he said.
The new building, which is Kartavya Bhawan three, is part of the Central Vista Project and will be the new power centre of the country. The Prime Minister dedicated the building to the nation. "Kartavya Bhavan, on the path of duty, is a symbol of our unwavering commitment and continuous efforts toward serving every individual. It will not only help in swiftly delivering our policies and schemes to the people but will also provide a new momentum to the country's development. I am deeply proud to dedicate this building, an example of state-of-the-art infrastructure, to the nation," PM Modi later said in a post on X.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was also present at the event, said, "Today's occasion is a very important occasion... In the series of construction of ten Kartavya Bhavans, the first Kartavya Bhavan, number three, has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister today. I welcome and greet you all on this occasion."
Union ministers and dignitaries attended the event at Kartavya Path held hours after Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the first of the upcoming Central Secretariat buildings. Construction workers involved in building Kartavya Bhavan were also present.