New Delhi, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the rising participation of women in the civil services, noting that their representation has increased significantly since the early years of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Addressing the UPSC’s centenary celebrations in New Delhi, Modi said women accounted for only around 3 per cent of participation in the civil services examination in 1952, compared with around 30 per cent today.
He also said four women have served as chairpersons of the UPSC, with three of them appointed after 2014.
“In the entire history of the UPSC, there have been four women chairpersons, of whom three were appointed after 2014,” Modi said.
The four women who have headed the Commission are Rose Millian Bathew, Rajni Razdan, Preeti Sudan and Alka Sirohi.
“This change is not only about numbers; it shows that the opportunities have increased,” the Prime Minister said.
According to UPSC data, women constituted 31.2 per cent of candidates recommended in the Civil Services Examination 2025, with 299 women among 958 recommended candidates. In 1952, only three women were among the 83 candidates recommended.
Modi also underlined the expanding pool of civil services aspirants, describing it as a significant pool of talent for the country. He said the larger number of candidates increased the responsibility of the Commission in selecting people who would eventually represent the government at the grassroots level.
“When there is a bigger pool of talent, and you select one candidate, you are selecting someone who will become a representative of the government. At the ground level, people will consider them as the government,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said the UPSC had strengthened its credibility and reliability during its 100-year journey.
“UPSC, in its 100 years, has strengthened its reliability,” he said.
During the centenary programme, Modi released a commemorative coin, a stamp and a book titled 100 Landmark Judgements: Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India. The event marked the culmination of year-long celebrations that began on October 1, 2025, commemorating the establishment of the first Public Service Commission in India in 1926.
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