https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Meet the Female Civil Servants Who Shaped Our Country 

Indian Masterminds Stories

Several centuries ago, women’s primary roles were limited to family and household responsibilities. Women gradually began to emerge from the four walls of their homes and take on the roles of leaders and administrators. Whether it was the struggle for freedom or becoming a part of democracy and government formation, they rose to every front. According to some surveys, women currently contribute 18% of GDP. Their roles and numbers have both increased, whether they are corporate or bureaucratic. 

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, IM presents the story of such shining female bureaucrats who have played crucial roles in nation-building. 

C. B. MUTHAMMA 

Ms. C.B. Muthamma became the first woman to clear the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination (now UPSC CSE) in 1948. She was the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service and became the first female diplomat. She was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Hungary, at the time.

Ms. Muthamma also served as a diplomat in Rangoon, London, and on the Pakistan and American Desks in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. She is known to be the pioneer of gender equality in the civil service. 

KANCHAN CHAUDHARY BHATTACHARYA 

Ms. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was the second woman IPS officer in India after Kiran Bedi and the first woman IPS officer in the Uttar Pradesh cadre. An IPS of the 1973 batch, she became the first woman ever to serve as the Director-General of Police of a state when she was appointed the DGP of Uttarakhand.

For her exceptional work in policing, Ms. Bhattacharya was honored with the President’s Medal for Long and Meritorious Services in 1989, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Services in 1997, the Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellent All-Round Performance, and the Outstanding Woman Achiever award, 2004.

NIRUPAMA RAO 

A 1973 batch IFS officer, Ms. Nirupama Rao, had topped the all-India ranking for the UPSC civil services of that year. She became the second woman to be the Foreign Secretary of India in 2009 and served on the position until 2011. Author of the book, ‘The Fractured Himalaya’, Ms. Rao served as India’s Ambassador to the United States, China, and Sri Lanka (High Commissioner) during her career.

Dr. B SANDHYA 

An IPS officer of the 1988 batch, Ms. B Sandhya retired as Director General of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, Home Guard, and Civil Defence.

She is known for her literary contributions, which have won her several awards, including the Edasseri Award in 2007. Ms. Sandhya completed her Master of Science in Zoology and PhD from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. She started her career as a project officer at the Kerala State Co-operative Fisheries Federation, and from there she joined the Indian Police Service after passing the Indian Civil Services Examination in 1988. As an IPS officer, she has served in various districts of Kerala, including Kannur, Kollam, and Thrissur.

SANTHA SHEELA NAIR

A former IAS officer from the 1973 batch, Ms. Nair, became the first woman district collector of Trichy and retired as secretary to the Government of India. She served as the Union Joint Secretary for Fertilizers and the Fertilizer Commissioner from 1990 to 1994.

She has had a long and illustrious career spanning over 50 years of service to her country. She has been a champion of sustainability and was instrumental in making rainwater harvesting a legal requirement in the state of Tamil Nadu. This program was successfully implemented, impacting a population of 65 million and averting the Chennai water crisis in the 2000s.

PREETI SUDAN 

An IAS officer of the 1983 batch, Ms. Sudan has held significant positions both at the state (Andhra) and national levels, including serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defense, handling responsibilities in disaster management, and Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. Besides this, she served the country as the Health Secretary of India and was a key strategist during Covid-19.

The officer is known for her role in supporting the development and implementation of crucial initiatives like the National Health Policy and the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. An alumnus of the London School of Economics, Ms. Sudan also worked as a consultant at the World Bank.

RAJNI SEKHRI SIBAL 

A retired IAS officer of the Haryana cadre and 1986 batch, Ms. Sibal is currently serving as the Independent External Monitor (IEM) of the Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and EXIM (Export-Import) Bank.

The first female topper of the Indian Civil Service, Ms. Sibal has held various roles in the Government of India and the Government of Haryana. She has previously served as the Director General of Employment and Training under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and then as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

She has also headed the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development during her career. Ms. Sibal retired as the first Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries in 2020. 

MANJARI JARUHAR 

Ms. Jaruhar is ranked fifth among the first five female IPS officers in India and is the first female IPS officer in Bihar. She retired as the Special Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The author of ‘Madam Sir’, the Story of Bihar’s First Lady IPS Officer,  Ms. Jaruhar, is also a recipient of the Government of India Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

ARUNA SUNDARAJAN 

A retired IAS officer of the 1982 batch Kerala cadre, Ms. Sundarajan served the country for more than three decades in areas that include Economic and Development Administration, Investment Promotion, and IT/Telecom. 

She was posted as the IT secretary of Kerala and was instrumental in establishing the IT department in 1998. She had a significant role to play in the development of e-governance in the state of Kerala and also conceived and spearheaded the Akshaya project (e-literacy).

She can be credited as the feminist torchbearer who headed the Kudumbashree project, which has created benchmarks in the field of women empowerment and has created significant employment opportunities for women.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT