An overhaul of the government’s work culture was one of the major changes Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised before taking charge.

Soon after becoming the prime minister, there was a buzz in the corridors of power that there is no place of lethargic functioning.

Almost a year down the line there is urgency among babus.

“Unlike in the past we don’t keep files with us for too long,” says a senior bureaucrat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting at the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday

Another senior officer in the ministry recalled that in the early days of the Modi government he got an official communication from the Prime Minister’s Office and it clearly stated, “Please get back within 24 hour."

The officer passed it off casually only to get a reminder the next day.

“It has been like that. We are expected to move files quickly and cannot sit over pending work,” said the officer.

The prime minister recently in his address to bureaucrats asked them to work hard but at the same time not work under any pressure.

He said it’s important to take breaks and be relaxed.

The Prime Minister has made it clear that officers are open to discuss anything with him.

Soon after assuming charge, Modi had met all top secretaries and shared his phone number with them so that they could reach him directly.

There have been instances when Modi has directly called up the officers concerned on a particular subject instead of following the protocol.

Soon after Modi assumed office there was a strong buzz that he wants a list of babus spending long hours at the golf course leaving the golf enthusiasts slightly jittery.

The bio metric attendance system launched in September 2014 has had a big impact on the functioning of officials.

An analysis of the data shows that employees are spending nearly twenty minutes extra in office every day.

The Biometric Attendance System dashboard (url:www.attendance.gov.in); which keeps updating itself in real-time can indicates the number of officials working in offices at any given time.

Another novel idea that the prime minister came up with was to send senior bureaucrats to the places where they had served as young officers.

This was done to get an insight on what has changed and what needs to be done for development in small cities and rural areas.

The bureaucrats were required to give a report after making these visits.

Keeping pace with the demands to be prompt officials are seen working in high numbers Saturday which is a holiday.

Not just officials, Modi has ensured that highest standards of probity be maintained by people holding high offices.

Ministers were ordered to leave the conduct and management of any business they have interests before being appointed minister.

Modi ordered all the Union Ministers to submit details of their assets, liabilities and business interests to his office within two months of taking charge.

The PM has made it clear to Ministers ensure that that their family members do not participate in the business of supplying goods or services to government.

In fact a senior minster was reprimanded for a misdemeanour by his relative that was embarrassing for the government.

The Modi government has put a restriction on frequent travelling of Governors ensuring that they spend considerable time in their state.

The decision has been taken after it was noticed that some governors spent days outside their respective states.

Now they have been told to stay in their respective states for at least 292 days in a year and not leave station until or unless approved by the President.

Even foreign trips of officials are under secrutiny.

The PMO has made it mandatory for officials going on foreign tours to submit an “outcome report” when they return.