Assam becomes the first state in India to include the Transgender option in the gender category in application forms for Civil Service Commission (CSE).
A total of 42 transgender applicants have already applied for the preliminary examination this year.
Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Chairman Pallab Bhattacharya stated, “Initially we had not made a separate category for transgender people when we issued exam notification in September. Prominent transgender activist Swati Bidhan Baruah approached APSC to include a separate category. The state government also notified and a separate category was created.”
Associate vice-chairperson of Assam State Transgender Welfare Board, Swati Bidhan Baruah stated, “The move to include transgender in a separate category is a welcome step. Despite the 2014 Supreme Court order and 2018 Gauhati HC order, transgenders were not given any separate category. The decision by APSC to include a separate category for transgenders is a big thing. “
This development was welcomed with warmth and zeal and many took to Twitter to express their eagerness.
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