Who was the First Woman IAS Officer of India, Check Here

Anna Rajam Malhotra is the first female IAS official in India. Born in Ernakulam district of Kerala in 1924, she completed her education in Kozhikode and later at Madras University.

In 1951, she cleared the civil service exam and joined the Madras cadre. Despite social norms, she chose administrative services rather than diplomatic services. Throughout her career, she has worked with two prime ministers and seven chief ministers.

It is worth noting that she contributed to the success of the 1982 Asian Games and played a key role in the development of the Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai. In 1989, she was awarded Padma Bhushan for her service. Anna Rajam Malhotra died in 2018 at the age of 91.

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Who is the first female IAS official in India?

The first female IAS official in India was Anna Rajam Malhotra (Née George). She joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1951, overcoming the social and institutional resistance of the administrative role to women. She was born on July 17, 1927 in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, and completed her English literature at the University of Madras.

Despite being encouraged to join foreign service in India, she insisted on pursuing IAS and was eventually appointed as a subgroup of Tirapat in Madras State under Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari.

Throughout her career, Anna Rajam Malhotra held several important positions, including other secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Taxation, and chairman of the NHAVA SHEVA Port Port Trust, where she played a key role in developing India’s first computerized port.

She also contributed to major events such as the 1982 Asian Games and served seven chief ministers of Tamil Nadu. She was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1989 for her exemplary service.

Anna Rajam Malhotra died in September 2018 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of determination and empowerment for women in India’s bureaucracy.

Anna Rajam Malhotra’s journey to become an IAS official

Born on July 17, 1927 in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Anna Rajam Malhotra is the first female IAS official in India. After completing her studies at Kozhikode, she studied higher education in English literature at the University of Madras.

She cleared the UPSC civil service exam in 1950, when social norms discouraged women from playing an administrative role. In her interview, she was advised to choose a foreign or central service that was “more suitable for women”, but she insisted on joining the Indian Administrative Services (IAS).

Anna joined the Madras cadre in 1951 and served under Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari. Her initial post as a regional deputy was faced with resistance due to gender bias. But she overcomes these challenges with resilience. She also became the first female secretary of the central government, breaking down barriers and setting a precedent for women to come.

Anna Rajam Malhotra’s key contributions and achievements

Anna Rajam Malhotra’s career embodies resilience, determination and commitment to excellence. These are some of her major contributions as IAS, the No. 1 woman in India.

The pioneering role as India’s first female IAS official:

  • Anna Rajam Malhotra became the first woman to join the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1951, breaking the gender barrier in a male-dominated field.

Important infrastructure projects:

  • Playing a key role in the development of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), near Mumbai, India’s largest container port.
  • The planning and implementation of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is one of India’s first lane concrete expressways, promoting regional connectivity and economic activities.

Leaders of the Central and State Governments:

  • Posted among seven chief ministers in Tamil Nadu, showing her administrative expertise in roles in various states.
  • Working closely with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he organized the 1982 Asian Games, contributing to its success.
  • Having held important positions in the Union’s Ministry of the Interior and other central departments, where she was involved in policy development and implementation.

Recognition and Rewards:

  • In 1989, she was honored by Padma Bhushan for her exemplary contribution to public administration.

Women’s guidance and advocacy:

  • Women who advocate civil servants and mentored numerous young officials, inspiring future generations to play an outstanding and leadership role in public administration.

Contributions after retirement:

  • After retiring from a civil servant, she continued her influence as a director at the Leela Venture Ltd. Hotel.