Context:
- Recent government data presented in the Lok Sabha reveals a significant rise in women’s representation in India’s civil services.
- The trend reflects growing progress towards gender parity in public administration, aligning with constitutional ideals of equality and inclusiveness.
Key Highlights:
Rising Women’s Participation in Civil Services
- Women’s share in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) increased from 24% in 2018 to 35% in 2023, marking an 11% rise in five years.
- The number of women qualifying:
- 2019: 220 women out of 922 candidates
- 2023: 397 women out of 1,132 candidates
Educational Background of Successful Candidates
- Engineering graduates consistently formed over 50% of successful candidates.
- This highlights the growing role of technical and analytical education in clearing the UPSC examination.
Institutional Transparency and Accountability
- The data was shared by the Minister of State for Personnel in the Lok Sabha, reflecting:
- Parliamentary oversight
- Transparency in recruitment processes
Governance and Social Impact
- Higher representation of women is expected to:
- Improve diversity in decision-making
- Lead to more inclusive and gender-sensitive policies
- Strengthen public trust in administration
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Gender imbalance in higher civil services.
- Causes of Improvement:
- Increased access to education for women
- Targeted government initiatives for women empowerment
- Government Context:
- UPSC-conducted Civil Services Examination
- Data tabled in Lok Sabha
- Benefits:
- Enhanced representation of women in governance
- Better policy outcomes reflecting societal diversity
- Challenges:
- Persistent gender gaps at senior decision-making levels
- Regional and socio-economic disparities
- Impact:
- Strengthening of representative bureaucracy
Relevant Mains Points:
- Definitions & Facts:
- CSE: UPSC exam for recruitment to IAS, IPS, IFS, and allied services
- Gender Parity: Equal participation across genders
- Static Linkages:
- Article 14 – Equality before law
- Article 15 – Prohibition of discrimination
- Article 16 – Equality of opportunity in public employment
- Governance Linkages:
- Role of women in responsive administration
- Diversity as a governance strength
- Way Forward:
- Mentorship and leadership training for women officers
- Gender-sensitive workplace policies
- Encouraging women from rural and marginalized backgrounds
- Continuous monitoring of representation trends
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Social Justice – Women Empowerment, Equality
- GS 2: Governance – Civil Services, Institutional Reforms