First Women in India

Daily Dose of Knowledge | 08 Nov 2025

Topic: भारत में प्रथम महिला
              First Women in India

Here’s a comprehensive list of “First Women in India” across various fields — 

List of First Women in India (Across All Fields)

️ Politics & Governance

• First Woman President of India: Pratibha Patil (2007)
• First Woman Prime Minister: Indira Gandhi (1966)
• First Woman Governor: Sarojini Naidu (Uttar Pradesh, 1947)
• First Woman Chief Minister: Sucheta Kriplani (Uttar Pradesh, 1963)
• First Woman Speaker of Lok Sabha: Meira Kumar (2009)
• First Woman Finance Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman (2019)

Law & Administration

• First Woman IPS Officer: Kiran Bedi (1972)
• First Woman Judge in India: Anna Chandy (1937)
• First Woman Chief Justice of High Court: Leila Seth (Himachal Pradesh HC, 1991)
• First Woman Lawyer: Cornelia Sorabji (1888)

Science & Technology

• First Woman Doctor: Anandi Gopal Joshi (1886)
• First Woman to go to Space: Kalpana Chawla (1997)
• First Woman Engineer: A. Lalitha (1943)
• First Woman Astronaut from India: Kalpana Chawla

✈️ Aviation & Defence

• First Woman Pilot: Sarla Thakral (1936)
• First Woman Air Marshal: Padmavathy Bandopadhyay
• First Woman Defence Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman

️ Adventure & Sports

• First Woman to Climb Mt. Everest: Bachendri Pal (1984)
• First Woman Olympic Medalist: Karnam Malleswari (Bronze, Weightlifting, 2000)
• First Woman Grandmaster (Chess): Koneru Humpy
• First Woman to Win Asian Games Gold: Kamaljit Sandhu (Athletics, 1970)

Education & Literature

• First Woman Teacher: Savitribai Phule
• First Woman President of Indian National Science Academy: Dr. Indira Hinduja
• First Woman to Win Jnanpith Award: Ashapurna Devi

Arts, Cinema & Media

• First Woman Director in Indian Cinema: Fatma Begum (1926)
• First Woman to Win Bharat Ratna: Indira Gandhi (1971)
• First Woman Editor of a Newspaper: Usha Mehta

Business & Finance

• First Woman CEO of a Bank: Arundhati Bhattacharya (SBI)
• First Woman to Head SEBI: Madhabi Puri Buch

International Recognition

• First Woman to Win Miss World: Reita Faria (1966)
• First Woman to Win Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen (1994)

“हर पहली महिला ने एक दरवाज़ा खोला — अब आपकी बारी है!”
“Every first woman opened a door — now it’s your turn!”

November 2025: Current Affairs