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In a compelling and motivational address to the Officer Trainees (OTs) of the 2023 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) batch, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, celebrated a historic milestone the highest-ever representation of women in the history of the IAS.
A total of 74 women officers now comprise 41% of the current batch of 180 officers.
Opening the interactive session, part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary Programme, Dr Singh credited this significant progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He emphasised that the government’s focus on women-led initiatives has gained unprecedented traction over the past decade.
“The Prime Minister has consistently championed women’s empowerment. This record-setting representation is a direct reflection of his vision for inclusive governance,” said Dr Singh.
Early Exposure Through Assistant Secretary Programme
Currently, the IAS officer trainees are posted across 46 Central ministries as part of the eight-week Assistant Secretary Programme running from 1 April to 30 May 2025.
Designed to provide real-time exposure to policy-making and governance, the initiative has now entered its 10th year.
Dr Singh lauded the programme as one of Prime Minister Modi’s earliest reforms in bureaucratic training.
“It has instilled a renewed confidence among young officers. Many proved their mettle during the COVID-19 crisis in district-level roles,” he recalled.
Celebrating Diversity And Democratisation
Highlighting the growing inclusivity of the civil services, the Minister pointed to increasing representation from states like Punjab, Haryana, and the North-East regions historically underrepresented in the IAS.
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He also praised the batch’s academic and professional diversity: 99 officers come from engineering backgrounds, alongside several from medical and other technical fields.
“Earlier, I questioned why technocrats entered civil services. Today, with initiatives like Digital India and Smart Cities, their skills are indispensable national assets,” he noted.
Youth And Technology: Catalysts For Change
Dr Singh expressed admiration for the youthful energy of the batch, with an average age of 22–26 years.
He encouraged the officers to stay ahead of technological trends and fully utilise the iGOT Karmayogi platform a digital capacity-building tool designed for continuous learning.
“You are fortunate to serve during India’s most promising era, as we march towards Viksit Bharat @2047,” he said, underscoring the officers’ role in shaping the nation’s future.
Envisioning A Dynamic Bureaucracy
During an open-floor exchange, Dr Singh advocated for a more flexible civil service structure that allows officers to temporarily work outside the government and return with domain expertise.
He called this “a win-win model” for both the administration and individual growth.
Technology As A Great Equaliser
Addressing digital inclusivity, the Minister cited the success of the Swamitva Mission, which uses drones to map land and grant property rights, thereby democratising access to land records and strengthening rural governance.
He also drew attention to the CPGRAMS platform, India’s flagship grievance redressal mechanism, boasting a 98% resolution rate and over 26 lakh grievances disposed of most within 13 days.
“Technology alone cannot satisfy citizens. We need empathy too. That’s why we’ve introduced a ‘human desk’ for emotional closure. Governance must be both efficient and humane,” he explained.
Retired Officers As Knowledge Reservoirs
In a particularly heartfelt moment, one trainee quoted Dr Singh’s previous statement, “One retires from service, not from citizenship.”
The Minister responded by discussing the creation of a Digital Repository of Expertise and the Anubhav Awards, initiatives aimed at leveraging the experience of retired civil servants for the benefit of future generations.
Inspiring The Next Generation Of Civil Servants
Concluding the interaction, Dr Singh urged the officer trainees to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability in their careers.
He called on them to align their service with the spirit of Antyodaya working for the upliftment of the most marginalised.
“This IAS batch is not only the youngest and most diverse but also the truest reflection of New India’s aspirations. Let your service echo the hopes of a billion citizens,” he affirmed.
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