Despite forming nearly half of India’s population, women and transgender individuals continue to be vastly underrepresented in the country’s most prestigious recruitment process — the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Data from the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Annual Reports between 2010 and 2021 paints a telling picture: while women’s participation has slowly increased, transgender representation remains almost invisible.
Women’s Representation: A Slow but Steady Climb
According to the UPSC’s 2021 Annual Report, women constituted 32.98% of candidates appearing for the Preliminary Examination. However, only 14.75% progressed to the Mains, 26.87% reached the Interview stage, and ultimately, a mere 15.66% — or 201 women — made it to the final list of selected candidates.
Although modest, the upward trend is clear: women’s participation rose from 23% in 2010 to nearly 33% in 2021, signaling a slow but steady shift toward gender inclusion in India’s civil services.
Transgender Participation: Progress Still Out of Sight
In contrast, the transgender community remains almost absent from the UPSC landscape. Following a 2016 court directive, the Commission added a “third gender” option in its application forms — a milestone for inclusivity. However, the impact has been minimal.
In 2021, only 19 transgender candidates applied, with just four appearing for the exam — none qualified. Similarly, 2020 saw 16 applicants and five appearances, while 2018 and 2019 recorded just one application each.
Experts attribute this near-zero participation to systemic barriers — widespread stigma, identity-based exclusion, and a lack of institutional support prevent many transgender students from even reaching higher education, let alone competing in national-level exams.
Professor Rajeev from Delhi University explained that while initiatives like his department’s Transgender Resource Center offer training and counseling, broader social awareness and inclusive educational policies are urgently required to bridge the gap.
Societal Pressures Continue to Constrain Women Aspirants
For countless women, preparing for the UPSC remains a struggle against entrenched cultural expectations.
Anshika Moyal from Rajasthan recalled how her decision to move to Delhi for exam preparation invited constant reminders from relatives to get married. “There’s still a belief that girls should be married by their late twenties. That constant pressure makes it hard to stay focused,” she said.
Similarly, Aayushi from Uttarakhand, a government employee, shared that she faced ridicule from family elders for continuing her studies instead of marrying. “My grandmother used to say I was wasting time, but my mother stood by me and encouraged me to keep going,” she added.
IAS officer Ira Singhal noted that many families see the UPSC as a “risky pursuit” for women, preferring the perceived stability of marriage over the uncertainty of years-long preparation.
Economic and Structural Challenges Deepen the Divide
Beyond social barriers, financial constraints often determine who can afford to chase their civil services dream. UPSC preparation typically demands hefty expenses — coaching fees, accommodation, and study materials add up quickly.
Aayushi shared that while her parents funded her education, they couldn’t afford to send her to Delhi for coaching, forcing her to rely on self-study. Such financial disparities highlight how families often invest more readily in sons’ education, while daughters’ ambitions are seen as secondary.
The Balancing Act: Marriage, Family, and Ambition
For married women and mothers, the challenge intensifies. Anshika noted that several of her married friends preparing for UPSC can barely dedicate three to four hours a day to study after managing household and childcare responsibilities.
These stories underline the dual burden of domestic expectations and academic competition that women face, often making their journey longer and harder.
The Road Ahead: Building a Gender-Just Bureaucracy
The trends suggest that while women are gradually carving a space in India’s administrative services, transgender representation is still at a nascent — almost invisible — stage.
Experts argue that meaningful reform will require inclusive educational policies, gender-sensitive coaching programs, targeted scholarships, and affirmative institutional support.
As India strives toward a modern, equitable civil service, the challenge is clear: to build a system where merit prevails over gender, ensuring that every talented individual — regardless of identity — can aspire to serve the nation through its most respected bureaucratic institutions.
