UPSC 2020 sees better women representaion

UPSC 2020 sees better women representaion

Over 28% women have qualified for the UPSC this year as against 23% in 2019

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

4.10.2021

Women candidates have scored decent ranking in the recently released UPSC 2020 results as half of the top 20 positions have been occupied by women from the diverse educational field. This year’s result confirmed a perfect balance in the male-female ratio in the toppers list. Also, there is a slight improvement in the number of women qualifiers as compared to the last few years. Over 28% women have qualified for the UPSC this year as against 23% in 2019. In 2018, 2017 and 2016 the percentage of women qualifying the exams were 24.24%, 24% and 23.33%, respectively. This year, out of the total 761 qualifiers, 545 were male candidates while there were 216 women. In 2019, against 632 male, 197 female candidates qualified.

Despite the improvement in numbers, women continue to have less than 30% representation in UPSC. Explaining the possible reasons behind this, Shreya Singhal, AIR 176 in UPSC 2020 says, “ Women have additional challenges and responsibilities, which act as a hindrance in the professional world. Women have to juggle between personal and professional lives and balance both. Despite this, there is a gradual increase in the representation of women in civil services over the years.”

Talking about the challenges that she faced during her preparation, she adds, “While my father and cousins have been pillars of strength, I too faced awkward questions from my relatives regarding my parents allowing me to study in a different city.” “Had it not been this time, I doubt if I would have got another year for preparation for the UPSC exam,” says Shreya, 25, who hails from a small town called Sarswa in Saharanpur. UPSC exams being tough, demand exhaustive preparation, which becomes restrictive for girls.

Several families from remote places hesitate to send their daughters to a different city for better preparation. “Not all families are broad-minded and liberal to allow girls to travel to a new place,” explains Shreya who moved to Jaipur and then to Delhi for higher education. She had been preparing at Residential Coaching Academy, Jamia Millia Islamia, after pursuing BTech from Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur (MNIT). Her father is a chemist and her mother is a homemaker.

Highlighting the challenges, AIR 15 Ria Dabi says, “There is a perception in society that women should look after the domestic front. Covid made the situation worse. Women living in rural areas face challenges such as reaching the far away exam centres, getting study material, financial issues and family constraints,” she adds. “With increasing number of women achieving top ranks, young girls have found their role models. This year, out of the top 25 candidates, 12 are women, which is the proof of change,” adds Ria, who is the sister of 2015 AIR 1 Tina Dabi. Inspired by Tina, Ria, 23, a graduate from Lady Shri Ram college, DU started to prepare at Career Launcher in 2019. Talking about the gradual change in the demography of UPSC, Shreya says, “Perceptions have changed after Tina Dabi emerged as the all India topper in UPSC in 2015. There is greater visibility for women candidates.”