The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology has in a recent interaction with the Officer Trainees of the 2023 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) praised the record women’s representation (74 women officers making up 41% of the current batch of 180 officers).

• The interaction was part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary programme which marks its 10th anniversary in 2025.
• 21st April 2025 will be celebrated as the National Civil Services Day in India.

About Representation of Women in Civil Services in India

• Inclusion: Women were first allowed an entry into the All India Civil Services including the Administrative Service (IAS) and the Police Service (IPS)  in the year 1948 after Independence.
  • The All Indian Services (AIS) Rules, 1954 however demanded the resignation of a female officer after marriage on the ground of efficiency which was deleted in 1972.
• Pioneers: Anna George (Malhotra) became the first lady to join the Indian Administrative Services in 1951. 
  • Kiran Bedi became the first woman to be appointed  to the Indian Police Service in  1972.
• Representation Statistics: 
  • Overall Representation: Women officers accounted for only 13% ie. 1,527 of the total 11, 569 IAS officers recruited between 1951 and 2020 as per the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) dataset compiled by the Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka University.
  • Growth Trajectory: The proportion of women officers recruited directly to the IAS grew from 15 per cent in the 1970s, 25 per cent in the 2000s to 34 percent in 2024.
    • Currently 21% of serving IAS officers are women
  • State Wise Disparity in Women Recruits in IAS: Punjab has contributed 45% women officers followed by Delhi (43%), Haryana (36%), and Kerala (35%). 
    • The worst performing states are Gujarat and Chhattisgarh at 8% both, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (11%), Maharashtra (14%), and Bihar (16%).

• • State Cadres Choice: According to a Business-Standard report 2022, Telangana and Karnataka had 30% female IAS officers. 
    • Women officers made up fewer than 15% of the cadre in Jharkhand, Sikkim, Bihar, Tripura, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Reason for Low Representation:
  • Low application status: Fewer women applies for civil services exam as compared to men
    • Example: As per the 72nd Annual Report published by UPSC, in 2021, 7,02,674 male candidates applied for the exam as compared to 3,33,730 women.
  • Socio Cultural Variables: Societal concerns relating to marriage and the nature of administrative jobs discourage investing time and money into civil services preparation for women.
  • Age Barrier: The median age of women officers is 25-26 whereas for males it is above 30, signifying how women drop out of preparation in later years.
  • Government Initiatives:
    • Fee Waiver: The UPSC waives application fees for women to encourage participation.
    • Convenience Posting: Efforts are made to facilitate postings of husband and wife at the same location.

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