HYDERABAD: Women IPS officers on the rise; record 36% in 2025 batch
HYDERABAD: The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad will hold its Dikshant Parade on October 17, marking the completion of Phase I training for the 77th Regular Recruits (RR) batch. This year’s batch includes the highest-ever representation of women — 36% of the officer trainees — in the Academy’s history, said Director Amit Garg.
A total of 190 officer trainees, comprising 174 Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers and 16 foreign officers from Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives, will receive their certificates at the ceremony. “Last year, women accounted for 29% of the batch. The number has been increasing each year, and this time it has touched 36%,” Garg said.
Academy notes rise in women officers, decline in engineering graduates
Of the 174 IPS probationers, 62 are women and 112 men, forming 36% and 64% respectively. Garg noted a steady decline in engineering graduates and a rise in candidates from arts and law backgrounds joining the civil services.
The 77 RR batch joined SVPNPA on December 9, 2024, after completing the foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. They underwent 45 weeks of Phase I training, which included modules on law, investigation, leadership, and fieldcraft.
‘SMART’ training model introduced
Garg introduced the Academy’s new ‘SMART’ training approach, which stands for Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Accountable and Alert, Responsive and Reliable, and Technologically proficient. “These key focus areas aim to prepare our officers to serve society effectively,” he said.
He added that the Academy has incorporated subjects such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, behavioural sciences, and mental well-being into its curriculum to align with the changing demands of policing.
Women probationers share experiences
At a media interaction on Wednesday, several probationers praised Hyderabad’s cosmopolitan culture and inclusivity. “They said that Hyderabad has a cosmopolitan culture, and people here are very inclusive, adding that Telangana stands out for its safety, law and order, and effective crime control.”
Among the women probationers, Ayesha Fatima from Madhya Pradesh and Manisha Nehra from Rajasthan have been allotted to the Telangana cadre. The parade will be commanded by Tamil Nadu cadre officer Anjit A Nair, with Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary as the chief guest.
Next phase of training
Following the ceremony, the probationers will proceed to Delhi for attachments with Central Police Organisations (CPOs), the Central Armed Police Forces, and the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training. They will also undergo four weeks of training with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indian Army, extending the total duration of Phase I training to 49 weeks.
Afterwards, they will move to their respective cadres for 29 weeks of district practical training.
