This certainly is a Historic Milestone. Central Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has engaged with 2023 IAS batch, celebrating record 41% women officers.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Saturday interacted with the 2023 batch of IAS officer trainees, applauding the cohort’s groundbreaking 41% women representation—the highest in the service’s history. The batch of 180 probationers includes 74 women officers, a achievement Dr. Singh attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women-led development.
Hands-On Policy Exposure for Young Officers
The officers are currently undergoing the Assistant Secretary Programme, an initiative launched in 2015 that provides eight-week attachments across 46 central ministries to give fresh recruits firsthand policy experience. Celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary, Dr. Singh noted its success in nurturing a generation of administrators who proved indispensable during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diversity as a Strength
Highlighting the batch’s regional and professional diversity, the Minister pointed to increased representation from Punjab, Haryana, and the Northeast—regions historically underrepresented in civil services. The cohort also includes:
99 engineers
Professionals from medicine, law, and other technical fields
A majority aged 22–26 years, bringing youthful energy to governance
“Initiatives like Digital India and Smart Cities need technocratic expertise—your skills are a national asset,” Dr. Singh remarked.
Tech-Driven Governance & Empathetic Service
The Minister emphasized technology as an equalizer, citing:
Swamitva Mission’s drone-based rural land mapping
CPGRAMS, which resolved 98% of 26+ lakh grievances (most within 13 days)
Yet, he reminded officers that “governance is human at its core,” urging them to balance efficiency with empathy—exemplified by the new ‘human desk’ for emotional closure in grievance redressal.
Recalling his own adage—”One retires from service, not from citizenship”—Dr. Singh highlighted platforms like the Digital Repository of Expertise and Anubhav Awards that harness retired officers’ wisdom.
In his closing remarks, he charged the batch: “You embody New India’s aspirations. Let integrity and innovation guide your service to a billion dreams.”
The session underscored the government’s focus on inclusive, tech-empowered administration while staying rooted in compassionate governance—a vision now being carried forward by India’s most diverse IAS cohort yet.
