 Officer Trainees, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded the historic representation of women in the civil services){kind=link}
APRIL 20: In an inspiring interaction with the 2023 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer Trainees, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded the historic representation of women in the civil services. With 74 women among 180 officers, the batch marks the highest-ever female participation—constituting 41% of the group. The interaction was held as part of the Assistant Secretary Programme, under which IAS trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for an 8-week period, from April 1 to May 30, 2025. This initiative provides early exposure to policy-making and the functioning of the Central Government.
Dr. Singh credited this milestone to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose guidance women-led development and empowerment have flourished. “The Prime Minister has always championed women empowerment, and this record representation reflects his commitment to inclusive governance,” said Dr. Singh.
Reflecting on the Assistant Secretary Programme’s inception in 2015, Dr. Singh highlighted its role in shaping confident and capable civil servants. He recalled how officers trained through this initiative rose to the occasion during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively managing district-level challenges. As the programme completes a decade, it continues to equip young officers with real-time governance experience early in their careers.
Dr. Singh also noted the growing democratization of civil services, with increasing participation from previously underrepresented regions like Punjab, Haryana, and the North-East. He emphasized the batch’s diverse academic background, pointing out that 99 officers come from engineering, alongside several with medical and technical qualifications. “With programmes like Digital India and Smart Cities, such technical expertise is not just relevant, it’s invaluable,” he stated.
Praising the young average age of the batch—between 22 and 26 years—Dr. Singh said it gives these officers a long trajectory to serve and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He encouraged them to harness digital learning platforms like iGOT Karmayogi for continuous capacity building.
In an open-floor dialogue, Dr. Singh advocated for a flexible civil services model where officers could gain experience outside government and return as domain experts, calling it a “win-win” for both sides. Highlighting technology as a tool for equity, he cited the Swamitva Mission as an example of drone-based mapping that empowers rural citizens by democratizing land records and decentralizing governance.