100. Who became the first woman Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation?
[SSC Selection Post (Higher Secondary), 18 Sep 2026, Shift 2]
A) Smita Sabharwal
B) Ashwini Bhide
C) Kiran Bedi
D) Aruna Roy
Answer: B) Ashwini Bhide
Explanation: Ashwini Bhide took charge as the first woman Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in March 2026. A Maharashtra-cadre IAS officer, she had earlier led Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation and was closely associated with the Metro Line 3 project.
99. Preeti Rajak became the first woman in the Indian Army to be promoted to which rank?
[SSC Selection Post (Graduate), 17 Sep 2026, Shift 1]
A) General
B) Colonel
C) Subedar
D) Captain
Answer: C) Subedar
Explanation: Trap shooter Preeti Rajak became the Indian Army’s first woman Subedar in January 2024. Her exceptional Asian Games performance led to an out-of-turn promotion. She had joined the Corps of Military Police as a sportsperson in December 2022.
98. Who was India’s first woman captain in the Merchant Navy?
[SSC MTS 2025 paper, held 11 Feb 2026, Shift 3]
A) Radhika Menon
B) Sheetal Devi
C) Aditi Pant
D) Reshma Nilofer Naha
Answer: A) Radhika Menon
Explanation: Radhika Menon became the first woman captain in the Indian Merchant Navy, taking command of an oil tanker. She later received an International Maritime Organization award for exceptional bravery at sea, highlighting her leadership and maritime service.
97. Who became the first woman Director General of the Railway Protection Force in 2025?
[RRB Group D, 24 Dec 2025, Shift 2]
A) Rashmi Shukla
B) Sonali Mishra
C) Nina Singh
D) Archana Ramasundaram
Answer: B) Sonali Mishra
Explanation: Sonali Mishra assumed the leadership of the Railway Protection Force in August 2025, becoming the first woman to head it. The RPF protects railway property and contributes to passenger security, making the appointment historically significant in railway policing.
96. Who is recognised as a pioneering first woman teacher associated with India’s first girls’ school at Pune?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 29 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Annie Besant
B) Kasturba Gandhi
C) Sarojini Naidu
D) Savitribai Jyotirao Phule
Answer: D) Savitribai Jyotirao Phule
Explanation: Savitribai Phule, alongside Jyotirao Phule, established a pioneering school for girls in Pune in 1848. She taught girls when formal education was widely denied to women and became an enduring symbol of social and educational reform.
95. In which year did the first batch of women cadets pass out of the National Defence Academy?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 25 Nov 2025, Shift 1]
A) 2021
B) 2022
C) 2023
D) 2025
Answer: D) 2025
Explanation: The first group of 17 women cadets passed out of the National Defence Academy on 30 May 2025. This followed the landmark decision permitting women to enter NDA training, an important change in the officer-training system.
94. Who was described as the first woman jawan in the Indian Army?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 22 Nov 2025, Shift 3]
A) Punita Arora
B) Shanti Tigga
C) Anjali Gupta
D) Navjot Kaur
Answer: B) Shanti Tigga
Explanation: Shanti Tigga joined the Territorial Army as its first woman jawan in 2011. She qualified through the required physical selection process while raising a family. This is distinct from being the first commissioned woman officer in the Army.
93. Who was India’s first woman officer of the Indian Police Service?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 18 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Annie Besant
B) Kiran Bedi
C) Matangini Hazra
D) Lakshmi Sahgal
Answer: B) Kiran Bedi
Explanation: Kiran Bedi joined the Indian Police Service in 1972, becoming its first woman officer. She later worked in policing, prison administration and reform. Her career is especially associated with changes in the management of Tihar Jail.
92. Who was the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 18 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Ruma Pal
B) Cornelia Sorabji
C) Bachendri Pal
D) Shikha Sharma
Answer: C) Bachendri Pal
Explanation: Bachendri Pal reached the summit of Mount Everest on 23 May 1984, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. Her climb took place during an Indian expedition and became a prominent milestone in Indian mountaineering.
91. Who was elected the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association in 2022?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 17 Nov 2025, Shift 1]
A) Annu Rani
B) P. T. Usha
C) Ashapurna Devi
D) Hima Das
Answer: B) P. T. Usha
Explanation: Athlete P. T. Usha was elected president of the Indian Olympic Association in December 2022. She became its first woman president and also an Olympian to lead the organisation, which represents India in the Olympic movement.
90. Who was the first woman Chief Minister of an Indian state?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 15 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Aruna Asaf Ali
B) Sucheta Kripalani
C) Anna Chandy
D) Kamala Nehru
Answer: B) Sucheta Kripalani
Explanation: Sucheta Kripalani became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1963 and held the office until 1967. She was the first woman to head an Indian state government and had participated prominently in the freedom movement.
89. Who was the first woman recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 15 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Debala Mitra
B) Asima Chatterjee
C) Sudipta Sengupta
D) Archana Bhattacharyya
Answer: B) Asima Chatterjee
Explanation: Asima Chatterjee received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1961, becoming its first female recipient. An organic chemist, she investigated natural products and medicinal compounds, contributing important work relevant to antimalarial and antiepileptic research.
88. Which scientist became the first woman to receive a D.Sc. from an Indian university in 1944?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 15 Nov 2025, Shift 3]
A) Asima Chatterjee
B) Purnima Sinha
C) Kamala Sohonie
D) Bibha Chowdhuri
Answer: A) Asima Chatterjee
Explanation: Asima Chatterjee earned a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Calcutta in 1944, becoming the first woman to earn that degree from an Indian university. Her research focused heavily on organic chemistry and medicinal plants.
87. Who was India’s first woman autorickshaw driver?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 14 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Radhika Menon
B) Shila Dawre
C) Parul Parmar
D) Debala Mitra
Answer: B) Shila Dawre
Explanation: Shila Dawre became known as India’s first woman autorickshaw driver in 1988. Working in Pune, she entered a profession then dominated by men and helped challenge stereotypes about women’s participation in public transportation.
86. Who became the first woman aide-de-camp to the President of India in June 2025?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 14 Nov 2025, Shift 1]
A) Neena Gupta
B) Aliawati Longkumer
C) Yashasvi Solanki
D) Anuradha Thakur
Answer: C) Yashasvi Solanki
Explanation: Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki became the first woman naval officer appointed as aide-de-camp to the President in 2025. An ADC assists a high constitutional office in ceremonial, military liaison and official duties.
85. Who was the first woman Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 13 Nov 2025, Shift 2]
A) Kamala Das
B) Debala Mitra
C) Anna Chandy
D) Chitra Ramkrishna
Answer: B) Debala Mitra
Explanation: Archaeologist Debala Mitra headed the Archaeological Survey of India from 1981 to 1983, becoming the first woman in that position. She was known for scholarship on Buddhism and contributions to the study and conservation of archaeological heritage.
84. Who was appointed the first woman Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU in July 2025?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-II, 13 Oct 2025, Shift 2]
A) Uma Kanjilal
B) Najma Akhtar
C) Anu Singh Lather
D) Shashikala Wanjari
Answer: A) Uma Kanjilal
Explanation: Professor Uma Kanjilal became the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University in 2025. IGNOU is a major distance-learning institution, and her appointment represents a milestone in the university’s administrative leadership and open education.
83. Who became India’s first woman Union Law Secretary in March 2025?
[SSC CGL, 22 Sep 2025, Shift 3]
A) Shelly Oberoi
B) Atishi
C) Anju Rathi Rana
D) Rekha Gupta
Answer: C) Anju Rathi Rana
Explanation: Anju Rathi Rana was appointed Secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs in March 2025, becoming the first woman to serve as Union Law Secretary. The ministry plays a major role in legal advice and government legal affairs.
82. Which statement correctly describes the achievement of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw?
[SSC CGL, 22 Sep 2025, Shift 1]
A) She founded Infosys Biotech in 1981.
B) She was the first Indian woman to lead a major biotechnology company.
C) She developed the first Indian COVID-19 vaccine.
D) She founded India’s first nanotechnology institute.
Answer: B) She was the first Indian woman to lead a major biotechnology company.
Explanation: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon in 1978 and developed it into a major Indian biotechnology business. She became a leading woman entrepreneur in biotechnology, helping create opportunities for research-driven pharmaceutical and life-sciences enterprises.
81. Karnam Malleswari won India’s first Olympic medal by a woman in which sport?
[SSC CGL, 16 Sep 2025, Shift 1]
A) Boxing
B) Athletics
C) Weightlifting
D) Long jump
Answer: C) Weightlifting
Explanation: Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. This was the first Olympic medal won by an Indian woman. She competed in the women’s 69-kg weightlifting category and established a major national sporting landmark.
80. Who among these was India’s first woman Chief Minister?
[CDS-II General Knowledge, 14 Sep 2025]
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Sucheta Kripalani
C) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
D) Hansa Mehta
Answer: B) Sucheta Kripalani
Explanation: Sucheta Kripalani became Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in 1963 and remained in office until 1967. A participant in India’s independence struggle and a member of the Constituent Assembly, she was the first woman to lead an Indian state government.
79. Puja Tomar, the first Indian woman to win a UFC bout, competes in which sport?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 11 Aug 2025, Shift 2]
A) Wrestling
B) Mixed martial arts
C) Boxing
D) Judo
Answer: B) Mixed martial arts
Explanation: Puja Tomar recorded a milestone UFC victory in 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to win a fight in the promotion. Ultimate Fighting Championship contests fall under mixed martial arts, combining striking and grappling techniques.
78. Who became the first woman Director-General of the Armed Forces Medical Services in 2024?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 18 Jun 2025, Shift 3]
A) Anju Rathi Rana
B) Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar
C) Deena Mehta
D) Arti Sarin
Answer: D) Arti Sarin
Explanation: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin became Director-General of the Armed Forces Medical Services in October 2024. She was the first woman to head this tri-service medical organisation, which manages medical support for Indian military personnel.
77. Which statement about Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy is NOT correct?
[UPSC CDS-I General Knowledge, 13 Apr 2025]
A) She was among the earliest women admitted to a men’s college.
B) She became the first woman legislator in British India.
C) She was a medical professional.
D) She received the Bharat Ratna in 1956.
Answer: D) She received the Bharat Ratna in 1956.
Explanation: Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy was a physician and a pioneering social reformer. She joined the Madras Legislative Council in 1927 as a pioneering woman legislator. The claim that she received the Bharat Ratna in 1956 is incorrect.
76. Which Indian National Congress session was chaired by Sarojini Naidu?
[SSC MTS, 13 Nov 2024, Shift 2]
A) Lahore, 1929
B) Karachi, 1931
C) Kanpur, 1925
D) Madras, 1927
Answer: C) Kanpur, 1925
Explanation: The 1925 Kanpur Congress session was chaired by Sarojini Naidu. She was the first Indian woman to hold the presidency of the Indian National Congress and was a prominent poet and freedom fighter.
75. Who became chairperson of the Competition Commission of India on 23 May 2023?
[SSC MTS, 13 Nov 2024, Shift 1]
A) Subhash Chandra Garg
B) Neha Bhatia
C) N. K. Singh
D) Ravneet Kaur
Answer: D) Ravneet Kaur
Explanation: Ravneet Kaur became the first woman Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India in 2023. The commission is India’s statutory competition regulator, responsible for addressing anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and combinations under competition law.
74. Who was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress?
[SSC MTS, 12 Nov 2024, Shift 1]
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Annie Besant
C) Sucheta Kripalani
D) Aruna Asaf Ali
Answer: B) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant presided over the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1917. She was the first woman to head the party; Sarojini Naidu became its first Indian woman president later, in 1925.
73. Who became the first woman chief of the Central Industrial Security Force in December 2023?
[SSC MTS, 11 Nov 2024, Shift 2]
A) Archana Ramasundaram
B) Vinita Mehra
C) Nina Singh
D) Rashmi Shukla
Answer: C) Nina Singh
Explanation: Senior IPS officer Nina Singh became Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force in December 2023. The CISF protects major airports, government facilities and strategic installations. She was the first woman appointed to lead the force.
72. Who became the first woman Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court in 2024?
[SSC MTS, 23 Oct 2024, Shift 1]
A) Sujata Manohar
B) Ranjana Desai
C) Gyan Sudha Misra
D) Ritu Bahri
Answer: D) Ritu Bahri
Explanation: Justice Ritu Bahri was sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court in February 2024. Before that appointment, she served in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where she developed extensive judicial experience.
71. Who was the first woman to command the Armed Forces Transfusion Centre in November 2023?
[SSC MTS, 22 Oct 2024, Shift 2]
A) Colonel Sunita B. S.
B) Lieutenant Colonel Pooja Thakur
C) Colonel Shailza Sharma
D) Major Anjali Bhagwat
Answer: A) Colonel Sunita B. S.
Explanation: Colonel Sunita B. S. became the first woman officer to command the Armed Forces Transfusion Centre at Delhi Cantonment in 2023. The centre is a major blood-transfusion facility supporting the health requirements of the armed forces.
70. Who won two gold medals in archery at the 2023 Asian Para Games, achieving a landmark for an Indian woman?
[SSC MTS, 14 Oct 2024, Shift 3]
A) Sheetal Devi
B) Neema Rani
C) Sarita Devi
D) Disha Dhayal
Answer: A) Sheetal Devi
Explanation: Para-archer Sheetal Devi won two gold medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, one in the individual event and another in mixed team competition. Her results became a major landmark for Indian para-archery.
69. Who became the first Indian woman to win an under-20 world wrestling title?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 24 Sep 2024, Shift 3]
A) Antim Panghal
B) Priyanka Nayak
C) Swati Sanjay
D) Hina Khalifa
Answer: A) Antim Panghal
Explanation: Antim Panghal won the women’s under-20 world wrestling championship in the 53-kg category in 2022. She became the first Indian woman to win that title and later strengthened India’s reputation in international wrestling.
68. Who was India’s first woman chess grandmaster in the Woman Grandmaster category?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 23 Sep 2024, Shift 3]
A) Harika Dronavalli
B) S. Vijayalakshmi
C) Tania Sachdev
D) R. Vaishali
Answer: B) S. Vijayalakshmi
Explanation: S. Vijayalakshmi became the first Indian to receive the Woman Grandmaster title in 2001. The title is distinct from the unrestricted Grandmaster title. She also became a leading figure in Indian women’s chess and earned the Arjuna Award.
67. Ranjana Prakash Desai, the first woman Press Council of India chairperson, previously served in which branch of government?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 18 Sep 2024, Shift 3]
A) Legislature
B) Judiciary
C) Vigilance
D) Executive
Answer: B) Judiciary
Explanation: Ranjana Prakash Desai is a former Supreme Court judge and became the first woman to chair the Press Council of India. Her career was principally in the judiciary, so the question connects a historic appointment with her professional background.
66. Anna Chandy, the first Indian woman appointed a High Court judge, served in which High Court?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 11 Sep 2024, Shift 2]
A) West Bengal
B) Kerala
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B) Kerala
Explanation: Justice Anna Chandy was appointed a judge of the Kerala High Court in 1959. Having earlier worked in the judicial service, she became the first Indian woman appointed to a High Court bench and served until 1967.
65. In what year did a woman hockey player first receive the Arjuna Award?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 8 Jul 2024, Shift 3]
A) 1964
B) 1963
C) 1962
D) 1961
Answer: D) 1961
Explanation: Anne Lumsden received the Arjuna Award in hockey in 1961, becoming the first woman hockey player honoured with the award. The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 to recognise outstanding sporting achievements.
64. Captain Shiva Chouhan became the first woman Army officer deployed at which high-altitude battlefield?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 1 Jul 2024, Shift 4]
A) Leh
B) Siachen
C) Kargil
D) Dras
Answer: B) Siachen
Explanation: Captain Shiva Chouhan became the first woman officer operationally deployed at the Siachen Glacier in 2023. The area is one of the world’s highest military deployments and requires specialised preparation for extreme altitude and cold.
63. Who became the first woman to command an Indian Army unit near the China border in Ladakh?
[SSC Selection Post (Matriculation), 24 Jun 2024, Shift 4]
A) Colonel Geeta Rana
B) Colonel Shuchita Shekhar
C) Lieutenant General Punita Arora
D) Lieutenant General Madhuri Kanitkar
Answer: A) Colonel Geeta Rana
Explanation: Colonel Geeta Rana became the first woman officer to command an Indian Army unit in a strategically sensitive forward area near the China border. Her appointment reflected the opening of more command opportunities to women officers.
62. Who became the first woman chairperson of the Railway Board?
[SSC GD, 28 Feb 2024, Shift 4]
A) Kalyani Chadha
B) Manju Gupta
C) Jaya Varma Sinha
D) M. Kalavathy
Answer: C) Jaya Varma Sinha
Explanation: Jaya Varma Sinha took charge as the Railway Board’s first woman chairperson in September 2023. The board is India’s apex railway administrative body and oversees policy, operations and management across the national railway network.
61. In which year did Sarojini Naidu preside over the Indian National Congress?
[SSC GD, 21 Feb 2024, Shift 1]
A) 1925
B) 1935
C) 1931
D) 1921
Answer: A) 1925
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu presided over the Congress’s Kanpur session in 1925. She became the first Indian woman president of the party, following Annie Besant, who had been its first woman president in 1917.
60. Who was the first woman Director General of the CISF?
[CGPSC Prelims General Studies, 11 Feb 2024]
A) Nina Singh
B) Fatima Wasim
C) Shiva Chouhan
D) None of these
Answer: A) Nina Singh
Explanation: Nina Singh became the first woman to head the Central Industrial Security Force in December 2023. An IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, she earlier held senior police and administrative responsibilities before the CISF appointment.
59. Justice Fathima Beevi, who died in 2023, was India’s first woman in which role?
[CGPSC Prelims General Studies, 11 Feb 2024]
A) Mount Everest climber
B) Judge of the Supreme Court
C) Chief Minister
D) None of these
Answer: B) Judge of the Supreme Court
Explanation: M. Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989. After her judicial career, she also served as Governor of Tamil Nadu. She remains an important pioneer in India’s higher judiciary.
58. Who became the first woman to head the Indian mission in Islamabad after Independence?
[IB ACIO Grade-II Executive, 17 Jan 2024, Shift 3]
A) Sashastra Seema Bal
B) Geetika Srivastava
C) Archana Ramasundaram
D) C. B. Muthamma
Answer: B) Geetika Srivastava
Explanation: Indian Foreign Service officer Geetika Srivastava became India’s first woman head of mission in Islamabad when she assumed charge as chargé d’affaires in 2023. Because bilateral diplomatic representation was downgraded, this role, rather than High Commissioner, led the Indian mission.
57. Which statements about Justice Fathima Beevi are correct:
(1) first woman Supreme Court judge;
(2) Governor of Kerala from 1997 to 2001;
(3) first Muslim woman in the higher judiciary?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims General Studies]
A) 1 and 3
B) 1 only
C) 1 and 2
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 3
Explanation: Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of India’s Supreme Court in 1989. She served as Governor of Tamil Nadu, not Kerala, from 1997 to 2001. Thus statements 1 and 3 are correct but statement 2 is not.
56. Which dancer became the first woman nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha?
[SSC MTS, 11 Sep 2023, Shift 3]
A) Rukmini Devi Arundale
B) Kamala Kumari
C) Sitara Devi
D) Mrinalini Sarabhai
Answer: A) Rukmini Devi Arundale
Explanation: Rukmini Devi Arundale was the first woman nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1952. She played a central role in reviving Bharatanatyam as a respected concert art and founded Kalakshetra to preserve and teach classical arts.
55. Who became the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 17 Aug 2023, Shift 3]
A) Geeta Bhat
B) Jayati Ghosh
C) Utsa Patnaik
D) Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit
Answer: D) Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit
Explanation: Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit was appointed the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2022. JNU is a central university in New Delhi, and the appointment was a significant milestone in its leadership history.
54. Who was a pioneering first woman graduate of the University of Calcutta?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 8 Aug 2023, Shift 1]
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Annie Besant
C) Kadambini Ganguly
D) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Answer: C) Kadambini Ganguly
Explanation: Kadambini Ganguly and Chandramukhi Basu were among the first women graduates of the University of Calcutta in 1883. Kadambini later became a pioneering woman medical practitioner, advancing professional opportunities for women in colonial India.
53. In independent India, the first woman Governor headed the state now known by which name?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 26 Jul 2023, Shift 2]
A) West Bengal
B) Rajasthan
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Gujarat
Answer: C) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu became Governor of the United Provinces in 1947, shortly after independence. The province later became Uttar Pradesh. She was the first woman state Governor in independent India and had previously led the Indian National Congress.
52. Who was elected the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association in December 2022?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 25 Jul 2023, Shift 3]
A) P. T. Usha
B) Rajlaxmi Singh Deo
C) Karnam Malleswari
D) Dola Banerjee
Answer: A) P. T. Usha
Explanation: P. T. Usha became the first woman to lead the Indian Olympic Association in December 2022. Known as the Payyoli Express, she represented India as an athlete at the Olympics and Asian Games before entering sports administration.
51. Who became the first woman soldier skydiver in the Indian Army to jump from approximately 10,000 feet?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 24 Jul 2023, Shift 1]
A) Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar
B) Lance Naik Manju
C) Lt. Gen. Rajshree Ramasethu
D) Air Marshal Arti Sarin
Answer: B) Lance Naik Manju
Explanation: Lance Naik Manju of the Indian Army became its first woman soldier skydiver. Her jump was conducted from roughly 10,000 feet, demonstrating expanding opportunities for women in challenging military sporting and operational activities.
50. Who became the first woman combat aviator in the Indian Army Aviation Corps in 2022?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 18 Jul 2023, Shift 1]
A) Captain Abhilasha Barak
B) Captain Shiva Chauhan
C) Captain Gursimran Kaur
D) Captain Manju Sharma
Answer: A) Captain Abhilasha Barak
Explanation: Captain Abhilasha Barak completed training in May 2022 and became the first woman combat aviator in the Army Aviation Corps. The role opened a new operational aviation pathway for women serving as officers in the Indian Army.
49. Which freedom fighter became the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh?
[SSC MTS 2022 official paper, held 13 Jun 2023, Shift 2]
A) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
B) Rani Lakshmibai
C) Sarojini Naidu
D) Kasturba Gandhi
Answer: C) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu became Governor of the United Provinces in August 1947. That province was renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950. She was the first woman Governor of a state in independent India and a leading figure in national politics.
48. Who was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims, 14 May 2023]
A) Urmila Singh
B) Pratibha Patil
C) Meira Kumar
D) Sushma Swaraj
Answer: C) Meira Kumar
Explanation: Meira Kumar became Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 2009, the first woman to preside over the lower house of Parliament. A former diplomat and parliamentarian, she served as Speaker of the fifteenth Lok Sabha until 2014.
47. Who was the first woman Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly?
[RPSC EO-RO, 14 May 2023, Shift 2]
A) Yashoda Devi
B) Sumitra Singh
C) Vasundhara Raje
D) Kamla Beniwal
Answer: B) Sumitra Singh
Explanation: Sumitra Singh became the first woman Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in 2003. She held the post during the twelfth assembly and was known for an extensive legislative career, winning many terms as an MLA.
46. Which Congress session was the first to be presided over by a woman?
[SSC MTS 2022 official paper, held 2 May 2023, Shift 2]
A) Calcutta, 1917
B) Kanpur, 1925
C) Lahore, 1929
D) Surat, 1907
Answer: A) Calcutta, 1917
Explanation: Annie Besant presided over the Congress session held at Calcutta in 1917, the first time a woman chaired the Indian National Congress. Sarojini Naidu chaired the 1925 Kanpur session and became the first Indian woman president.
45. Which flight lieutenant became the first Indian Air Force woman qualified for combat missions on a fighter aircraft in May 2019?
[SSC CHSL 2022 official paper, held 17 Mar 2023, Shift 2]
A) Priya Jhingan
B) Harita Kaur Deol
C) Bhawana Kanth
D) Shanti Tigga
Answer: C) Bhawana Kanth
Explanation: Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot qualified for combat missions in the Indian Air Force in May 2019. She was part of the pioneering group of women inducted into the fighter pilot stream.
44. The first woman to win the Dronacharya Award was weightlifting coach ______ in 2000.
[SSC CHSL 2022 official paper, held 16 Mar 2023, Shift 3]
A) Sunita Sharma
B) Renu Kohli
C) Purnima Mahato
D) Hansa Sharma
Answer: D) Hansa Sharma
Explanation: Weightlifting coach Hansa Sharma received the Dronacharya Award in 2000, becoming its first woman recipient. The award recognises coaches whose athletes demonstrate distinguished performances and sustained success in national or international competitions.
43. Who was the first woman of Indian origin to travel into space?
[SSC CHSL 2022 official paper, held 15 Mar 2023, Shift 2]
A) Nagin Cox
B) Yogita Shah
C) Kalpana Chawla
D) Sirisha Bandla
Answer: C) Kalpana Chawla
Explanation: Kalpana Chawla flew on the space shuttle Columbia mission STS-87 in 1997, becoming the first woman of Indian origin to go into space. She was born in Karnal and later became an American astronaut.
42. Who was the first woman Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission?
[Rajasthan CET Senior Secondary, 11 Feb 2023, Shift 2]
A) None of these
B) Kanta Bhatnagar
C) Jayanti Patnaik
D) Lalitha Kumaramangalam
Answer: B) Kanta Bhatnagar
Explanation: Justice Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar became the first woman Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission in 2000. The commission investigates alleged human-rights violations falling within its legal jurisdiction and promotes public awareness of human dignity and constitutional safeguards.
41. Who became the first woman Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 6 Dec 2022, Shift 4]
A) Sanjay Verma
B) Vinod Aggarwal
C) N. Kalaiselvi
D) Prakash Chand
Answer: C) N. Kalaiselvi
Explanation: Nallathamby Kalaiselvi became the first woman Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 2022. An electrochemical scientist, she has researched advanced batteries and had earlier headed a CSIR research laboratory.
40. Which Indian woman became the first cricketer to appear in six Women’s Cricket World Cups?
[RRB Group D, 12 Sep 2022, Shift 2]
A) Jhulan Goswami
B) Harmanpreet Kaur
C) Smriti Mandhana
D) Mithali Raj
Answer: D) Mithali Raj
Explanation: Mithali Raj appeared in six editions of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, reaching this record in 2022. A long-serving captain and leading international run scorer, she played a major role in the growth of Indian women’s cricket.
39. Which woman founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association in 1920?
[RRB Group D, 6 Sep 2022, Shift 3]
A) Anasuya Sarabhai
B) Poornima Pakvasa
C) Hansa Mehta
D) Indumati Chimanlal
Answer: A) Anasuya Sarabhai
Explanation: Anasuya Sarabhai helped establish the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association, popularly called Majoor Mahajan Sangh, in 1920. She was a pioneering woman in India’s labour movement and advocated for textile workers, particularly women, in Ahmedabad.
38. Who became the first Indian woman with two individual Olympic medals?
[RRB NTPC CBT-II Level 5, 12 Jun 2022, Shift 1]
A) Mirabai Chanu
B) Dutee Chand
C) P. V. Sindhu
D) Ankita Raina
Answer: C) P. V. Sindhu
Explanation: Badminton player P. V. Sindhu won Olympic silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020, making her the first Indian woman with two individual Olympic medals. She joined the small group of Indians to repeat medal success.
37. Mridula Sinha was the first woman Governor of which Indian state?
[SSC CGL 2021 Tier-I, held 21 Apr 2022, Shift 2]
A) Haryana
B) Tripura
C) Mizoram
D) Goa
Answer: D) Goa
Explanation: Mridula Sinha became Goa’s first woman Governor in 2014. Apart from public office, she was a Hindi writer and worked with organisations concerned with social welfare and women’s participation in public life.
36. Who was the first woman hockey player to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?
[SSC CGL 2021 Tier-I, held 11 Apr 2022, Shift 3]
A) Rani Rampal
B) Vandana Katariya
C) Nikki Pradhan
D) Sharmila Devi
Answer: A) Rani Rampal
Explanation: Rani Rampal received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2020, becoming the first woman hockey player to receive the award. She captained the Indian women’s hockey team and helped increase its international visibility.
35. Who was the fifth woman in the world and the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest?
[CTET Paper-I, 6 Jan 2022]
A) Bachendri Pal
B) Sunita Williams
C) Karnam Malleswari
D) Santosh Yadav
Answer: A) Bachendri Pal
Explanation: Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to stand atop Mount Everest on 23 May 1984. Her successful climb during an Indian expedition was a landmark for women mountaineers. Santosh Yadav later became the first woman to summit Everest twice.
34. Who was the first Indian woman awarded the Ashoka Chakra?
[SSC GD, 7 Dec 2021, Shift 1]
A) Neerja Bhanot
B) Sarojini Naidu
C) Indira Gandhi
D) Kiran Bedi
Answer: A) Neerja Bhanot
Explanation: Neerja Bhanot was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1987 for courage while helping passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi. She was the first woman recipient of India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
33. Who became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar?
[SSC GD, 6 Dec 2021, Shift 1]
A) Renu Devi
B) Aparna Yadav
C) Kiran Bedi
D) Anju Bala
Answer: A) Renu Devi
Explanation: Renu Devi took office as one of Bihar’s Deputy Chief Ministers in November 2020, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the state. Her appointment formed part of the government led by Nitish Kumar.
32. Annu Rani became the first Indian woman to throw beyond 60 metres in which event?
[SSC CHSL 2020 official paper, held 11 Aug 2021, Shift 3]
A) Discus
B) Javelin
C) Hammer
D) Shot put
Answer: B) Javelin
Explanation: Annu Rani became the first Indian woman to surpass the 60-metre mark in javelin throw. Her progression raised national standards in the event and helped India earn increasing representation at international athletics championships.
31. Who was the first woman to carry India’s flag at an Olympic opening ceremony, in 1992?
[SSC CHSL 2020 official paper, held 16 Apr 2021, Shift 3]
A) Karnam Malleswari
B) Shiny Abraham Wilson
C) P. T. Usha
D) Nilima Ghose
Answer: B) Shiny Abraham Wilson
Explanation: Middle-distance runner Shiny Abraham Wilson carried India’s flag during the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She became the first woman to serve as India’s Olympic opening-ceremony flag-bearer, a prominent honour for an athlete.
30. Who became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal?
[SSC CHSL 2020 official paper, held 12 Apr 2021, Shift 2]
A) Vinesh Phogat
B) Kavita Devi
C) Babita Kumari
D) Sakshi Malik
Answer: D) Sakshi Malik
Explanation: Sakshi Malik won bronze in women’s freestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics in 2016. She became India’s first woman Olympic medallist in wrestling, creating a breakthrough for the sport at the Olympic level.
29. Rashmi Samant became the first Indian woman elected president of which university student union in 2021?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 27 Mar 2021, Shift 1]
A) Cambridge
B) Cardiff
C) Westminster
D) Oxford
Answer: D) Oxford
Explanation: Rashmi Samant was elected president of the Oxford University Student Union in February 2021. The result received attention because she was the first Indian woman elected to that role, although her time in office was brief.
28. Who was the first woman of Indian origin to go into space?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 27 Mar 2021, Shift 1]
A) Sunita Williams
B) Yamuna Krishnan
C) Shawna Pandya
D) Kalpana Chawla
Answer: D) Kalpana Chawla
Explanation: Kalpana Chawla travelled into orbit on Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-87 flight in 1997. She was the first woman of Indian origin in space, and her later death in the 2003 Columbia disaster prompted numerous tributes.
27. Who was the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 8 Mar 2021, Shift 2]
A) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
B) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
C) Annie Besant
D) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: D) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu led the Congress at Kanpur in 1925, becoming its first Indian woman president. Annie Besant had chaired the party earlier, in 1917, but was of British origin. The distinction is frequently tested in competitive examinations.
26. Who became the first Indian woman to win a World Universiade gold medal in 2019?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 27 Feb 2021, Shift 1]
A) Sania Mirza
B) Mary Kom
C) Dutee Chand
D) Saina Nehwal
Answer: C) Dutee Chand
Explanation: Dutee Chand won the women’s 100 metres at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples. It was the first gold medal for an Indian woman in a track event at the World University Games.
25. Who was the first woman President of the Astronomical Society of India?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 23 Feb 2021, Shift 1]
A) Mithali Raj
B) G. C. Anupama
C) H. Helina
D) R. Hemlata
Answer: B) G. C. Anupama
Explanation: Astrophysicist G. C. Anupama became the first woman President of the Astronomical Society of India. The society represents the professional astronomy community and supports scientific meetings, research exchanges and astronomy outreach.
24. Which Indian scientist became the first Indian woman elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2019?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 16 Feb 2021, Shift 2]
A) Tessy Thomas
B) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
C) Indira Hinduja
D) Gagandeep Kang
Answer: D) Gagandeep Kang
Explanation: Clinical scientist Gagandeep Kang was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2019, becoming the first Indian woman scientist to receive that honour. Her research has included enteric infections, childhood health and vaccine development.
23. Who became the first Indian woman elected to the International Olympic Committee?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 11 Feb 2021, Shift 1]
A) Sonia Gandhi
B) Sumitra Mahajan
C) Nita Ambani
D) Supriya Sule
Answer: C) Nita Ambani
Explanation: Nita Ambani became the first Indian woman elected as an individual member of the International Olympic Committee in 2016. The IOC oversees the Olympic movement globally, and her election was an important milestone in Indian sports administration.
22. Who was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 18 Jan 2021, Shift 2]
A) R. Bhanumathi
B) M. Fathima Beevi
C) Indira Banerjee
D) Indu Malhotra
Answer: B) M. Fathima Beevi
Explanation: Justice M. Fathima Beevi joined the Supreme Court in October 1989, becoming its first woman judge. She later served as Governor of Tamil Nadu and remains an important figure in the history of women in Indian law.
21. Who was the first Indian woman appointed to the ICC panel of international match referees?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 13 Jan 2021, Shift 1]
A) G. S. Lakshmi
B) Jhulan Goswami
C) Mithali Raj
D) Harmanpreet Kaur
Answer: A) G. S. Lakshmi
Explanation: G. S. Lakshmi became the first woman appointed to the International Cricket Council’s International Panel of Match Referees in 2019. Her appointment opened a new administrative and officiating pathway in cricket for women.
20. Who was the first Indian woman to win the Booker Prize?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 12 Jan 2021, Shift 1]
A) Anita Desai
B) Amrita Pritam
C) Arundhati Roy
D) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: C) Arundhati Roy
Explanation: Arundhati Roy received the 1997 Booker Prize for her debut novel The God of Small Things. She became the first Indian woman to win the award, drawing international attention to Indian English-language fiction.
19. Who was the first woman cricketer to play 200 One Day International matches?
[RRB JE CBT-I, 1 Jun 2019, Shift 2]
A) Deepti Sharma
B) Jhulan Goswami
C) Charlotte Edwards
D) Mithali Raj
Answer: D) Mithali Raj
Explanation: Mithali Raj became the first woman cricketer to appear in 200 One Day Internationals in February 2019, during a match against New Zealand. The former Indian captain also became one of the most prolific run-scorers in women’s international cricket.
18. Who was India’s first woman Chief Election Commissioner?
[MPPSC General Studies 2019]
A) R. M. Nikam
B) Kiran Bedi
C) V. S. Ramadevi
D) G. D. Das
Answer: C) V. S. Ramadevi
Explanation: V. S. Ramadevi briefly served as India’s Chief Election Commissioner in 1990 and became the first woman to hold the post. She later served as Governor of Karnataka and had a career in public administration.
17. Who was the first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress?
[WBCS Prelims 2019]
A) Annie Besant
B) Mirabehn
C) Sarojini Naidu
D) Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
Answer: C) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu presided over the Congress’s Kanpur session in 1925. The question specifically says first Indian woman; Annie Besant was first woman president overall, at Calcutta in 1917, but was British-born.
16. Who became the first woman President of India?
[RRB Group D, 31 Oct 2018, Shift 2]
A) Prerna Patil
B) Smita Patil
C) Indira Gandhi
D) Pratibha Patil
Answer: D) Pratibha Patil
Explanation: Pratibha Devisingh Patil became the first woman President of India in 2007 and served until 2012. Before the presidency, she had served as Governor of Rajasthan and had a long political career.
15. Who captained the Indian women’s cricket team in its first Test match era?
[RRB Group D, 22 Oct 2018, Shift 2]
A) Harmanpreet Kaur
B) Shantha Rangaswamy
C) Jhulan Goswami
D) Mithali Raj
Answer: B) Shantha Rangaswamy
Explanation: Shantha Rangaswamy became the first captain of the Indian women’s Test cricket team in 1976. She played an important role during the early years of the country’s international women’s cricket and later contributed to administration.
14. Who was India’s first Woman Grandmaster in chess?
[RRB Group D, 9 Oct 2018, Shift 3]
A) S. Vijayalakshmi
B) Padmini Rout
C) Koneru Humpy
D) Kruttika Nadig
Answer: A) S. Vijayalakshmi
Explanation: Chess player S. Vijayalakshmi earned the Woman Grandmaster title in 2001 and became the first Indian woman to do so. She earned multiple national titles and inspired a generation of Indian women chess players.
13. Who is popularly called India’s first female blade runner?
[RRB Group D, 9 Oct 2018, Shift 3]
A) Shalini Saraswathi
B) Kiran Kanojia
C) Sirichandana
D) Dipti Basker
Answer: B) Kiran Kanojia
Explanation: Kiran Kanojia became widely known as India’s first female blade runner. A para-athlete, she took up running with a prosthetic blade and became a visible example of participation in endurance sports after limb loss.
12. Which climber became the first woman to summit Everest twice in one season in 2017?
[RRB Group D, 4 Oct 2018, Shift 1]
A) Anshu Jamsenpa
B) Malavath Poorna
C) Arunima Sinha
D) Premlata Agrawal
Answer: A) Anshu Jamsenpa
Explanation: Anshu Jamsenpa achieved two Everest summits within a few days in May 2017. The mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh became renowned for this record-setting double ascent and for having reached the summit multiple times.
11. Which woman lawyer became the first to be directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court as a judge?
[RRB Group D, 17 Sep 2018, Shift 2]
A) Vrinda Grover
B) Menaka Guruswamy
C) Meenakshi Arora
D) Indu Malhotra
Answer: D) Indu Malhotra
Explanation: Indu Malhotra became the first woman advocate directly appointed as a judge of India’s Supreme Court in 2018. Her achievement differs from M. Fathima Beevi’s earlier distinction as the first woman Supreme Court judge.
10. Who was the first woman pilot inducted into the Indian Navy?
[UPSC NDA General Ability Test, 22 Apr 2018]
A) Astha Segal
B) Roopa A
C) Sakthi Maya S
D) Shubhangi Swaroop
Answer: D) Shubhangi Swaroop
Explanation: Shubhangi Swaroop, commissioned in 2017, became the Indian Navy’s first woman pilot. A graduate of the Indian Naval Academy, she represented an important opening for women in naval aviation. This distinction must not be confused with the Air Force’s first women fighter pilots.
9. Who was the first woman mountaineer to scale Mount Everest twice?
[HSSC Junior Engineer Civil, 13 Apr 2018, Shift 2]
A) Santosh Yadav
B) Sunita Sharma
C) Karnam Malleswari
D) Mamta Kharab
Answer: A) Santosh Yadav
Explanation: Santosh Yadav climbed Mount Everest in May 1992 and again in May 1993. She became the first woman in the world to summit the peak twice and also pioneered a successful ascent from the difficult Kangshung Face route.
8. Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh are known as which of the following?
[UPSC NDA General Ability Test, 18 Sep 2016]
A) Sprinters
B) Rock climbers
C) Fighter pilots
D) Mountaineers
Answer: C) Fighter pilots
Explanation: Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh were commissioned in June 2016 as the first women fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force. Their induction marked the opening of the combat fighter stream to women in India’s military aviation.
7. Who became the first woman to head an Indian central paramilitary force?
[RRB NTPC Tier-I, 6 Apr 2016, Shift 1]
A) Divya Ajith
B) Archana Ramasundaram
C) Punita Arora
D) Ashwini Pawar
Answer: B) Archana Ramasundaram
Explanation: IPS officer Archana Ramasundaram became the first woman Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal in 2016. Her appointment was considered a breakthrough in leadership opportunities for women within central armed police forces.
6. Who was the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court in India?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 2016]
A) M. Fathima Beevi
B) Leila Seth
C) Anna Chandy
D) Ruma Pal
Answer: B) Leila Seth
Explanation: Leila Seth became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991, the first woman to head a High Court in India. She had earlier been a judge of the Delhi High Court and was a prominent legal reformer.
5. Consider:
(1) Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Congress president;
(2) Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim Congress president.
Which statement is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims General Studies, 23 Aug 2015]
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B) 2 only
Explanation: Statement 1 is false: Annie Besant became the first woman President of Congress in 1917, although Sarojini Naidu was its first Indian woman president. Statement 2 is correct: Badruddin Tyabji presided over Congress in 1887.
4. Who was the first woman Chairperson of the State Bank of India, appointed in 2013?
[WBCS Prelims 2015]
A) Arundhati Bhattacharya
B) Arundhati Roy
C) Arundhati Basu
D) Arundhati Nag
Answer: A) Arundhati Bhattacharya
Explanation: Arundhati Bhattacharya became Chairperson of the State Bank of India in October 2013. She was the first woman to lead the bank, India’s largest public-sector bank, and served in the role until 2017.
3. Who was the first woman to become President of the Indian National Congress?
[WBCS Prelims 2015]
A) Annie Besant
B) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
C) Sarojini Naidu
D) Aruna Asaf Ali
Answer: A) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant chaired the Indian National Congress at Calcutta in 1917. She was an advocate of Home Rule and the first woman to hold the party presidency. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman president in 1925.
2. Which statements are correct about Annie Besant:
(1) she promoted Home Rule;
(2) she founded the Theosophical Society;
(3) she once presided over Congress?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2013]
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Annie Besant promoted the Home Rule movement and presided over the Indian National Congress in 1917. She did not found the Theosophical Society; Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott founded it in New York in 1875.
1. Who was the first woman President of India?
[Odisha Police Constable Official Paper 2011]
A) Indira Gandhi
B) Sarojini Naidu
C) Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
D) Kiran Bedi
Answer: C) Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
Explanation: Pratibha Patil served as India’s twelfth President from 25 July 2007 to 25 July 2012, becoming the country’s first woman head of state. She previously served as Governor of Rajasthan and was active in Maharashtra politics.