Kiran Bedi (b. 1949)

First woman IPS officer (1972)Field: Policing / public service Often remembered for her visibility, Kiran Bedi’s real “first” was structural: introducing prison reforms, open prisons, and education programs for inmates at Tihar Jail. Why her story matters today: Sources: Why these stories matter now Across these lives, a pattern emerges: lesser-known Indian women who were […]

First Indian woman cytogeneticist; key contributor to sugarcane genetics post-1950Field: Science / agriculture Though her career began earlier, her most impactful work in India happened after 1950, when she returned from the UK and helped develop hybrid sugarcane varieties crucial for India’s agricultural self-sufficiency. Why her story matters today: Sources: Why these stories matter now […]

First woman Chief Justice of a State High Court (Himachal Pradesh, 1991)Field: Judiciary / governance Leila Seth was also the first woman to top the London Bar examinations. Beyond her legal “firsts,” she was instrumental in advocating reforms in family law and spoke publicly against domestic violence long before it became mainstream discourse. Why her […]

First Indian woman to earn a Doctorate of Science (DSc) from an Indian university (1960)Field: Science / medicinal chemistry Dr. Chatterjee’s work led to the development of anti-malarial and anti-epileptic drugs, at a time when tropical diseases affecting millions were largely ignored in global pharmaceutical research. She was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Why […]

First woman IAS officer (1951)Field: Public administration / governance When Anna Rajam Malhotra joined the Indian Administrative Service just four years after Independence, the system was not designed for women at all — postings, housing, or expectations. She later played a central role in the creation of India’s first computerized railway ticketing system as Chairperson […]