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 Assistant Secretary Programme
- Launch: The initiative was launched in 2015 to give young officers real-time governance exposure at the beginning of their careers
- Objective: The IAS Officer Trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of eight weeks providing them early exposure to policy formulation and the workings of the Central government
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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%).
Trends in UPSC Performance
- The percentage of women candidates recommended by the UPSC has increased from 24 percent in 2018 to 34 percent in 2022.
- In 2015: The top four ranks went to women (Ira Singhal, Renu Raj, Nidhi Gupta, Vandana Rao).
- In 2021: The top three ranks were secured by women
- In 2022: 60% of the top 20 rank-holders were women.
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- 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.
National Civil Services Day
- The year 2025 will mark the 17th Civil Services Day.
- Origin: The Government of India commemorates National Civil Services Day every year on April 21 since 2006 to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional efforts of our civil servants engaged in public service.
- Historical Significance: On April 21, 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (The first Home Minister of Independent India) addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers, referring to them as the “steel frame of India”.
- PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration: The Prime Minister of India honours civil service officers with the PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration on this day.
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21 Apr 2025
