Anna Rajam Malhotra: India’s First Woman IAS Officer

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is one of the toughest exams in India, and cracking it is a great achievement for any student. Satyendra Nath Tagore was the first Indian man to clear the UPSC exam, but do you know who was the first Indian woman to do so?

Anna Rajam Malhotra was the first Indian woman to pass the UPSC exam and the first woman IAS officer in India post-independence. In 1951, at the age of 27, Anna Rajam Malhotra passed the civil services exam and received a call for an interview. Despite the interview panel’s persuasion to join the foreign or central services, Anna Rajam Malhotra stood her ground and joined the Madras cadre of the civil service.

However, Anna Rajam Malhotra faced several challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field. Her appointment letter stated that her service would be discontinued after her marriage, and then-CM C Rajagopalachari was hesitant to designate her as a district sub-collector because he believed that “women should not serve in the civil forces.”

Despite these obstacles, Anna Rajam Malhotra had a long and successful career, serving in Madras from under seven chief ministers. She also worked on several initiatives and joined Rajiv Gandhi’s team for the 1982 Asian Games. Anna Rajam Malhotra later became the first female district sub-collector of the Hosur district and served as India’s Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

Anna Rajam Malhotra’s story continues to inspire female officers to this day. Although she passed away in September 2018 at the age of 91, her legacy lives on.

Staff Reporter