Public Service Motivation Through an Indian Lens: New Theoretical Dimensions

ABSTRACT Across the globe, contemporary societies face significant challenges, including climate change, inequality, and public health crises. These problems threaten essential public goods and collective well‐being. Addressing them requires individuals with high public service motivation (PSM) who prioritize societal well‐being over their own self‐interest. However, PSM remains underexplored in the global south region. Considering India as a representative of the global south due to its diverse socio‐cultural and religious population, this study aims to understand the nature, structure, and context of PSM in India. Data were collected via an online qualitative survey, yielding 82 valid responses. A multi‐stage thematic analysis identifies dimensions of PSM that both converge with and diverge from Perry's four dimensions. Three new dimensions of PSM—professional execution, relational fortitude, and moral character—emerge in our research. This study found a notable absence of one of Perry's dimensions—attraction to public policymaking.