Women Representation in IAS Reaches record 41%; Dr. Jitendra Singh Calls It Reflection of Democratisation of Opportunity in contemporary India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Women Representation in IAS Reaches record 41%; Dr. Jitendra Singh Calls It Reflection of Democratisation of Opportunity in contemporary India 2047 Will Belong to You: Dr. Jitendra Singh Urges Young IAS Officers to Lead India’s Next Governance Transformation Union Minister Interacts with IAS Officer Trainees of 2024 Batch under Assistant Secretary Programme Assistant Secretary Programme Creating More Confident and Policy-Oriented IAS Officers: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Posted On: 27 MAY 2026 3:32PM by PIB Delhi Referring to nearly 41 percent representation of women officers in 2024 batch of IAS, marking one of the highest-ever gender participation in the history of the IAS, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that the changing character of India’s Civil Services mirrors the transformation taking place across the country, where access to opportunity is expanding beyond traditional social and regional boundaries and young Indians are shaping a new governance culture driven by aspiration, technology and accountability.

Interacting with IAS Officer Trainees of the 2024 batch at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI), Vinay Marg, New Delhi, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the officers entering service today are uniquely placed in history, as they will occupy leadership roles at the peak of their careers when India completes 100 years of Independence in 2047. He described the moment as both a privilege and a responsibility, saying the future course of India’s governance journey would largely be shaped by this generation of civil servants.

The interaction formed part of the Assistant Secretary Programme under which 184 IAS officers of the 2024 batch have been attached with 49 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India for an eight-week period from May 4 to June 25, 2026, to gain first-hand exposure to policy making, coordination mechanisms and administrative functioning at the Centre.

Senior officials present during the programme included Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT); Shri P. Bala Kiran, Joint Secretary, DoPT; Ms. Chhavi Bhardwaj, Joint Secretary, DoPT; Ms. Shanmuga Priya Mishra, Joint Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA); and Shri Kranthi Kumar Pati, Deputy Director, LBSNAA.Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Assistant Secretary Programme, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has fundamentally changed the early administrative exposure available to young IAS officers. Recalling the evolution of the initiative over the last decade, he said the programme has helped create a generation of officers that is more confident, policy-oriented and institutionally connected from the very beginning of service.

The Minister said that nearly 41 percent representation of women officers reflects wider social change underway in India. He said the growing presence of women across competitive examinations, higher education and professional spaces demonstrates how opportunity and access are becoming increasingly democratised.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also spoke about the changing regional profile of Civil Services selections, noting that states which earlier had limited representation are now producing large numbers of successful candidates, while several traditionally dominant regions are witnessing a shift in career preferences toward emerging sectors and global opportunities. He said these changes indicate the rise of a more aspirational and dynamic India.

The Minister said 78 officers in the present batch come from engineering backgrounds, alongside professionals from medicine, law, management and humanities. He added that governance today increasingly requires technological understanding and interdisciplinary thinking, particularly at a time when government programmes are becoming more data-driven, digital and innovation-oriented.

Speaking informally with the trainees, Dr. Jitendra Singh said modern governance no longer functions through rigid hierarchies and one-way communication. He encouraged the officers to remain open-minded learners throughout their careers, saying the ability to adapt, unlearn and evolve is now more valuable than static knowledge.

The Minister said the nature of administration has changed significantly in the last decade with greater emphasis on transparency, responsiveness and citizen participation. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance philosophy of “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government,” he said technology must be used not merely for efficiency but also for improving trust between citizens and institutions.

Dr. Jitendra Singh urged the officers to make full use of platforms like Mission Karmayogi and continuously upgrade their capacities in emerging areas including Artificial Intelligence, digital governance, data analytics and public communication. He said future administrators would be expected to combine technological competence with empathy, sensitivity and ethical public conduct.

During the interaction, the Minister also exchanged views with the officer trainees on district administration, governance challenges, leadership responsibilities and changing public expectations from civil servants. He encouraged the young officers to maintain neutrality, remain accessible to citizens and focus on meaningful public outcomes rather than visibility.

Describing India@2047 as a national mission rather than merely a milestone, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the officers of this generation would become the principal drivers of India’s rise in the coming decades. He urged them to approach public service with humility, discipline and a larger sense of national purpose.***** NKR/AK/AV (Release ID: 2265823) Visitor Counter : 1069

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