The youngest female IAS officers in India are Aastha Singh (UPSC CSE 2024) and Divya Tanwar (UPSC CSE 2021). Both cleared the exam at 21 years.
Age matters in UPSC because passing early gives you more years to serve and make a bigger impact. The exam is tough and tests your patience, focus, and hard work.
This article talks about their stories, how they prepared, and important lessons for students planning to take the exam.
Who Are the Youngest Female IAS Officers in India? (2024-2025)
Two officers share the record of clearing UPSC at age 21, the minimum age allowed for the exam. Aastha Singh achieved this most recently in 2024, securing AIR 61 in UPSC CSE 2024, which is a main civil service of the Government of India.
She passed on her first attempt through self-study and comes from Panchkula, Punjab. Divya Tanwar was the first woman to reach this milestone back in 2021, earning AIR 438 without any coaching support.
What makes their achievements special is how different their paths were, yet both reached the same goal at the same age.
1. Aastha Singh – Highest Ranked at Age 21
Aastha Singh completed her BA in Economics from SRCC, Delhi University in 2023. Coming from a middle-class family in Punjab, she decided to prepare for UPSC right after graduation.
She chose to study on her own instead of joining coaching classes and prepared at home. Her strategy worked so well that she also cleared the HPSC HCS exam with AIR 31.
At just 21, she secured AIR 61 in her first attempt, proving that expensive coaching isn’t necessary when you have the proper focus and discipline.
2. Divya Tanwar – Pioneer at Minimum Age
Divya Tanwar created history in 2021 as the first female IAS officer to clear the exam at 21. Growing up in a village in Haryana, she didn’t have access to coaching centers or expensive study materials.
Instead of seeing this as a weakness, she used free resources and built her own study plan. Her success broke a barrier that many thought was impossible for someone so young.
Today, her story inspires thousands of students from rural areas who face similar challenges. She proved that determination can overcome any lack of resources.
Top 10 Youngest Female IAS Officers in India
These women achieved what most consider nearly impossible, clearing UPSC at ages when others are just beginning to prepare.
The standard age range for the UPSC examination is 21 to 32 years for the general category, giving candidates a wide window to attempt the exam.
| Rank | Name | Age at Success | UPSC Year (Batch) | All India Rank (AIR) | Key Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aastha Singh | 21 | 2024 (2025 Training) | 61 | Current record holder. Cleared in 1st attempt via self-study. |
| 2 | Divya Tanwar | 21 | 2021 | 438 | Hails from a village; cracked it at 21 without any coaching. |
| 3 | Tina Dabi | 22 | 2015 | 1 | AIR 1 at age 22. First Dalit woman to top the civil services. |
| 4 | Ananya Singh | 22 | 2019 | 51 | SRCC graduate; cleared in just 1 year of prep without coaching. |
| 5 | Simi Karan | 22 | 2019 | 31 | IIT Bombay graduate; switched from engineering to IAS. |
| 6 | Sulochana Meena | 22 | 2021 | 415 | Prepared using free YouTube/online resources from a village. |
| 7 | Swati Meena Naik | 22 | 2007 | 260 | A pioneer who set the record long before the social media era. |
| 8 | S. Susree | 22 | 2017 | 151 | Cleared on 1st attempt; youngest from Kerala at the time. |
| 9 | Riya Dabi | 23 | 2020 | 15 | Sister of Tina Dabi; achieved a top 15 rank in her 1st attempt. |
| 10 | Neha Byadwal | 24 | 2022 | 569 | Known for a 3-year digital detox (no phone/social media). |
Each officer used different methods and resources but reached the same goal through discipline and smart planning.
Current Status of Youngest Female IAS Officers
Aastha Singh is currently undergoing her foundation training at LBSNAA in Mussoorie, where all new IAS officers learn the basics of administration.
Meanwhile, Divya Tanwar has already completed her training and is working in her assigned district, implementing government programs and policies. Both officers have decades of service ahead of them.
According to the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement) Rules, 1958, IAS officers retire at the age of 60 years, which means these young officers will serve for nearly 40 years and have the opportunity to shape India’s future.
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Conclusion: Aastha Singh and Divya Tanwar are the Youngest Female IAS officers in India
Aastha Singh and Divya Tanwar both hold the record as India’s youngest female IAS officers at age 21. Their stories prove that starting early and studying on your own can work when you stay consistent.
Their success sends a clear message: start preparing early, trust your study method, and don’t let a lack of money or connections hold you back.
If you’re a student reading this, remember that your family background doesn’t decide your rank. What truly matters is how well you prepare and how much effort you put in.
FAQs
Both Aastha Singh and Divya Tanwar hold the record at 21 years, with Aastha clearing the exam most recently in 2024.
Aastha Singh cleared UPSC CSE 2024 at 21 with AIR 61, and Divya Tanwar cleared UPSC CSE 2021 at 21 with AIR 438.
Tina Dabi became the UPSC topper in 2015 at age 22 with AIR 1, and she was the first Dalit woman to achieve this.
Tina Dabi is well-known for topping UPSC at 22, but “best” depends on what you measure: rank, work impact, or specific achievements in service.
Divya Tanwar held the record in 2023 after clearing UPSC CSE 2021 at age 21, and Aastha Singh matched this record in 2024.
