Civil service numbers show fewer women, lower rural representation

Fewer women and lower numbers from rural areas are joining the coveted IAS, IPS and IFS, with the figure for 2011 being the lowest in the last six batches.

Among women, the decline has been more on account of falling numbers clearing the UPSC exam in the general and OBC category. In the SC/ST category, the numbers are either rising or the decline isn't that steep.

The representation from rural areas has shown a decline from the high of 48.28 per cent in 2009 to 29.55 per cent in 2011. Even in 2002 the figure was as high as 36.47 per cent.

The proportion of women among the top 266 selected candidates in 2002 was 26 per cent. Nine years later, they made up 18 per cent of the top 264.

Around 260 of the top candidates who clear the UPSC exam every year are selected for training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. Most of them are selected for the IAS, IPS and IFS. This data has been collated from these candidates. Rest of the candidates who clear the examination undergo a foundation course in other academies.

Among the candidates selected for the general category in 2002 to be IAS, IFS or IPS officers, 34 per cent were women. In 2011 they were just 18 per cent. Representation of women among OBC candidates was merely 14 per cent in 2002, which further fell to 12.5 per cent in 2011.

In comparison, from comprising merely 15 per cent of the SC candidates selected in 2002, women reached a high of 29 per cent in 2011. While their numbers among ST candidates saw a decline from 31 per cent in 2002, it was still high at 21 per cent in 2011.

Interestingly, the one figure that has remained almost constant is the proportion of married/engaged entrants. It has stood around the 24 per cent mark successively since 2002.

... contd.

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