Assam Becomes First State In The Country To Introduce ‘Transgender’ As Gender Option In Exam Application

In a major development, Assam has become the first state in the country to include a 'transgender' option in the gender category of the civil service examination form, reports India.com.

The separate category was introduced in the combined competitive (preliminary) examination (CCE), 2020, which is conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).

As per the report, a total of 42 candidates from the transgender community of Assam have filled the form this year, applying for the posts of state civil service, police and other allied services.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, APSC chairman Pallab Bhattacharya said, “Initially we had not made a separate category for transgender persons when we issued notification for the exam in September. We were soon approached by a prominent transgender activist Swati Bidhan Baruah to include a separate category.”

“We had a discussion with Baruah and also checked with UPSC where transgender persons are already allowed to apply in a separate category called other. The state government was apprised of the matter and a separate category was created,” he added.