Odia Officers Lead Historic All-Women Executive in Indian Forest Service Association

Bhubaneswar: Breaking new ground in Indian civil services, two Odia officers — Anita Karan and Monalisa Dash — have been elected as President and Secretary General, respectively, of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Association’s newly formed all-women National Executive Body.

This historic development marks the first time the IFS Association will be led entirely by women at the national level, setting a new benchmark for gender representation and inclusive leadership within the country’s bureaucratic institutions.

The announcement was made during the Association’s recent General Body Meeting, where the all-women leadership team was officially elected. Alongside Karan and Dash, the executive panel includes Jyotsna Sitling as Patron, Dr. Surbhi Rai as Joint Secretary, Suvvena Thakur as Treasurer, and Chestha Singh as Literary Secretary.

As one of India’s premier All India Services, the Indian Forest Service plays a vital role in conserving forests, protecting wildlife, and advancing the country’s environmental and sustainability goals. The emergence of an all-women executive underscores the evolving landscape of leadership in public service, with a clear shift toward gender equity.

For Odisha, the selection of Anita Karan and Monalisa Dash is a moment of pride, highlighting the state’s growing influence in the nation’s civil service leadership and its contribution to environmental governance.

Celebrated across the IFS fraternity, this milestone is seen as a turning point not only for the service itself but also for the broader civil services community — a bold step toward a more inclusive and progressive future.