A broadening social base is reshaping the civil services, with candidates emerging in greater numbers from states that were once under-represented, according to Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, founder and managing director of Drishti IAS. Speaking to ANI, Divyakirti said the changing profile of entrants reflects long-term social mobility, expanded access to education and shifts in aspirations across regions.Divyakirti observed that around the turn of the millennium, the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service saw a strong concentration of officers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He linked that pattern to social transformations that began in the 1960s and 1970s, when investments in public education, social reform movements and political mobilisation in parts of southern India translated into higher representation in competitive examinations. Those gains, he suggested, created a pipeline effect that endured for decades.
The pattern has since altered. Divyakirti pointed to Bihar as a prominent example of a state that has markedly increased its presence in the civil services, alongside Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana. Candidates from these regions are now qualifying in larger numbers, signalling a diffusion of opportunity and ambition. He attributed the change to a combination of factors, including improved schooling outcomes, wider coaching access, digital learning tools and a growing perception that public service offers both stability and influence.
The evolution mirrors broader data trends observed by analysts of the Union Public Service Commission examinations, which show fluctuations in state-wise representation over time. While the southern states continue to perform strongly, their dominance has softened as candidates from the Hindi heartland and western regions close the gap. Education researchers note that this shift aligns with expanded university enrolment, targeted welfare schemes that kept students in school longer, and migration-led exposure to competitive career pathways.
Divyakirti emphasised that the civil services examination itself has also evolved. Changes in the syllabus, a greater focus on analytical writing and policy comprehension, and the availability of preparatory material in multiple languages have reduced earlier disadvantages faced by candidates from certain regions. He argued that the democratisation of preparation has helped level the playing field, even as competition has intensified.
The rise of Bihar in particular carries symbolic weight. Long associated with lower human development indicators, the state has invested heavily in schooling infrastructure and scholarship programmes over the past two decades. Civil services success stories from the state have become visible role models, reinforcing a virtuous cycle in which aspirants see the examination as attainable rather than exceptional. Similar dynamics are evident in Rajasthan and Haryana, where coaching hubs and peer networks have flourished.
At the same time, Divyakirti cautioned against viewing representation as a zero-sum contest between regions. He said the objective should be a civil service that reflects the country’s diversity while maintaining meritocratic standards. Greater regional spread, in his view, strengthens administration by bringing varied social experiences into policy formulation and implementation, particularly in a federal system with wide economic and cultural differences.
Experts tracking governance outcomes argue that a more geographically diverse cadre can improve state–centre coordination and policy sensitivity. Officers who understand local contexts are often better placed to implement national schemes effectively, especially in areas such as rural development, education and health. This perspective has gained traction as administrations grapple with uneven development and the need for tailored interventions.
Divyakirti also highlighted the pressures facing aspirants. As participation widens, success rates remain low, underscoring the need for realistic expectations and alternative career planning. He said coaching institutions bear a responsibility to provide transparent guidance and to emphasise skills that are transferable beyond the examination, such as analytical reasoning and public policy literacy.
The changing intake profile comes at a time when debates over the role and relevance of the civil services have intensified. Calls for administrative reform, lateral entry and performance-linked assessments have prompted scrutiny of how officers are recruited and trained. Supporters of the current system argue that its national, competitive character is precisely what enables social mobility across regions, an argument reinforced by the trends Divyakirti described.