National News
Historic Women Representation in Civil Services: Dr. Jitendra Singh Hails Largest-Ever Representation of 74 Women IAS Officers in a Batch of 180, Nearly 41 Percent New Delhi, 20th April 2025: In a significant milestone for gender equality in the Indian Civil Services, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, lauded the historic achievement of 74 women officers, constituting 41 percent of the 2023 Indian Administrative Services (IAS) batch, during an interactive session with Officer Trainees (OTs) of the current batch. This remarkable feat was achieved as part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary Programme, an initiative designed to provide young IAS Officer Trainees with early exposure to the policy-making process and the inner workings of the Central Government. The programme, running from April 1 to May 30, 2025, allows the OTs to be attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of eight weeks, offering invaluable hands-on experience in governance. Dr. Singh attributed this landmark development to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who, he asserted, has consistently championed women empowerment and inclusive governance. "The Prime Minister has been a staunch advocate for the cause of women’s leadership, and this record representation of women in the IAS is a testament to his unwavering commitment to inclusive and progressive governance," the Minister remarked. Reflecting on the evolution of the Assistant Secretary Programme, which was launched in 2015, Dr. Singh described it as a brainchild of Prime Minister Modi to provide young officers with real-time governance experience at the onset of their careers. "This programme has fostered a new era of confidence among officers, particularly during the pandemic, when many of them displayed remarkable leadership and resilience in managing district-level crises," he noted. As the programme celebrates its 10th anniversary, Dr. Singh hailed its transformative impact on the development of capable and confident civil servants. He also noted with pride the democratisation of the civil services, with increasing representation from regions such as Punjab, Haryana, and the North-East—areas that had historically seen fewer selections. The Minister further highlighted the impressive academic and professional diversity of the current batch, which includes 99 officers from engineering backgrounds, along with many others from medicine and technical disciplines. "For years, I questioned why technocrats joined the civil services. Today, I understand that the technical nature of flagship government initiatives—such as Digital India and Smart Cities—has made their expertise an invaluable asset to the nation," Dr. Singh affirmed. Dr. Singh also commended the young age of the batch (ranging from 22 to 26 years), which he believes provides the officers with a long and promising career trajectory to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress. He encouraged the OTs to make full use of the iGOT Karmayogi platform, a digital ecosystem designed to offer continuous capacity-building modules and keep officers ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. "You are fortunate to be entering public service at a time when India is on the cusp of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047," Dr. Singh remarked, underscoring the critical role the young officers will play in the nation's journey toward sustainable development. In an open-floor dialogue with the Officer Trainees, Dr. Singh expressed support for a more dynamic and flexible civil service ecosystem, suggesting that officers be allowed to gain exposure outside government for a few years before returning as domain experts. "This model would be a win-win for both the officer and the government," he concluded. Touching upon the issue of bridging the digital divide, the Minister extolled the transformative potential of technology in governance, citing the Swamitva Mission as a prime example. "By leveraging drone-based property mapping, we have eliminated the need for revenue officials in many areas, democratising access to land records and decentralising service delivery at the grassroots level," Dr. Singh explained. Emphasising the importance of empathy alongside technological solutions, Dr. Singh also discussed the need for efficient grievance redressal systems, citing the CPGRAMS platform as a global benchmark. "With nearly 26 lakh grievances resolved and a 98% resolution rate, we have demonstrated the power of technology to serve citizens efficiently," he stated. However, he cautioned that while technical solutions are crucial, they must be complemented by human intelligence and empathy. "Governance is not just administrative; it is deeply human," he said. In a poignant moment, one of the Officer Trainees quoted Dr. Singh’s previous statement: “One retires from service, not from citizenship.” Responding to this, Dr. Singh elaborated on initiatives to harness the knowledge and expertise of retired civil servants, including the Digital Repository of Expertise, which allows India to tap into the vast experience of its retired officers. He also highlighted the Anubhav Awards, which encourage retiring officers to document their experiences for the benefit of future generations. Concluding the interaction, Dr. Singh urged the young civil servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and service, aligning their efforts with the spirit of Antyodaya, or the welfare of the last person in society. "This batch of IAS officers is not only the youngest and most diverse but also the most representative of the aspirations of New India. Let your work reflect the hopes of a billion people," he asserted. |
