First IAS Officer of India, First Female IAS, History of Civil Services

First IAS Officer of India was Satyendranath Tagore, who joined the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in 1863. He was the son of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. Satyendranath's success inspired many Indians to take up the prestigious Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam. By becoming the first IAS Officer of India, he not just served people in his capacity as a civil servant, but also worked for the welfare of the society.

Satyendranath Tagore - First IAS Officer of India

Some of his actions on women emancipation were revolutionary. For example, he encouraged his wife to give up conservative lifestyle and live like a Westerner.  He took her along with him to attend gatherings, which was unheard during those times. Such actions were the first step towards Bengali upper- and middle-class women being freed from the purdah.

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First Woman IAS Officer of India

Under the Government of India, she served in important ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Culture,  etc. She has the distinction of working with seven chief ministers and two Prime Ministers during the course of her service. During her tenure as the chairperson of Nhava Sheva Port Trust, Malhotra was responsible for making it India's first computerized port. For her contributions, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1989.

Origin of Civil Services in India

Civil service in India was known as Indian Civil Service (ICS) since it was introduced in 1858 till 1947. It remained a prestigious position in administration and hence, was sought after by Europeans. The origin and history of civil service in India is discussed below:

• During the era of the East India Company, civil services were divided into covenanted, uncovenanted, and special civil services.
• The covenanted civil services was replaced by the Indian Civil Services (ICS) in 1958 and served as the highest Indian Civil Service until 1947.
• The Indian Civil Services was divided into the All-India Services and the Central Services based on the Government of India Act 1919. The Indian Civil Service was made a part of All-India Services.
• After independence, the Indian Civil Service was split between India and Pakistan. The Indian part of the service was renamed the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

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Facts about Civil Services and IAS Officers in India

Father of Civil Services in India

First IAS Officer of India Male

Father of All-India Services 

IAS Topper Year-wise List

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Famous IAS Officers in India

Here are some of the most famous IAS officers in India, known for their significant contributions and impactful careers:

• Vinod Rai: He served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He is believed to have unearthed the multi-billion-worth 2G Spectrum scam in India.
• Anna Rajam Malhotra: She was the first woman IAS officer of India. She is known to have broken many gender stereotypes during her tenure as IAS Officer.
• T N Seshan: T N Seshan served as the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India, and is known for implementing electoral reforms. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service.
• D Subbarao : He served as the 22nd Governor of RBI. During his tenure as an IAS Officer, he is known to have systematically implemented the land transfer regulation.
• Amitabh Kant: He served as the 2nd CEO of public policy think-tank NITI Aayog . he is currently India's G20 Sherpa to the Prime Minister.
• Ira Singhal: Ira Singhal was the first differently abled woman to top the civil services exam. She has worked on issues such as education, disability, gender disparity, skill development, etc.
• Ashok Khemka: He is known for his actions against land mafia and corruption. As of 2023, he has been transferred 55 times in his 30 years of service by state governments.
• Durga Shakti Nagpal: She came into prominence after launching a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining during her posting in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

IAS Officer Who Became Chief Minister or Minister

• Yashwant Sinha: Yashwant Sinha was an IAS Officer from the 1960 batch and served as a bureaucrat until 1984. As a union minister, he held vital portfolios such as External Affairs and Finance Ministry.
• RCP Singh: Ram Chandra Prasad Singh was an IAS Officer of the 1984 batch belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He has served as a Union Minister of Steel.
• Ajit Jogi: He was an IAS Officer of the 1968 batch, who had also served as District Magistrate in Madhya Pradesh. He joined the Congress Party and later became the first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
• OP Choudhary: Om Prakash Choudhary was an IAS Officer of the 2005 batch, who took voluntary retirement in 2018 to join politics. He is currently the Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh.
• Raj Kumar Singh: R K Singh was an IAS Officer of the 1975 batch of the Bihar cadre and held the position of Union Home Secretary. He is currently serving as the Union Power Minister.
• K J Alphons: He was a Kerala Cadre IAS officer of the 1979 batch who joined politics by contesting the Kerala Assembly Polls. He joined the BJP in 2011, and in 2017, was appointed a union minister.
• Arjun Ram Meghwal: He was a Rajasthan cadre IAS Officer who is currently serving as the Union Minister of Law and Justice.
• Som Parkash: He is an IAS Officer of the 1988 Punjab Cadre, who is currently serving as a Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.