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Itanagar: In a historic achievement for and the entire Northeast, Tenzin Yangki from Tawang has become the first woman from the state to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). Her remarkable journey — from academia to civil service, and now to one of India’s most prestigious uniformed positions — has been celebrated across the country, drawing special praise from industrialist Anand Mahindra. Anand Mahindra hails Yangki’s achievement The Mahindra Group Chairman, known for highlighting stories of grit and inspiration, took to X (formerly Twitter) to applaud Tenzin Yangki for carrying forward her family’s legacy of public service while charting her own path. “An academician, a civil servant, and now an IPS officer — she carries forward the legacy of service from her parents while carving her own path of excellence. Being first is never easy. It means you walk alone at first, so that others may one day walk beside you,” Mahindra wrote. “Don’t be afraid of walking alone today… Others will follow.” Mahindra’s post, accompanied by a picture of Yangki at her IPS passing-out parade, quickly went viral, with netizens hailing her as a role model for women across the Northeast and India. A legacy of service and excellence Tenzin Yangki’s story is deeply rooted in a family tradition of public service. According to reports from the Arunachal Observer, her late father, Thupten Tempa, was an IAS officer and a former minister, while her mother, Jigmi Choden, served as a Secretary in the Government of Arunachal Pradesh before retirement. Yangki’s academic record mirrors her disciplined upbringing. She holds an MA and MPhil in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), one of India’s premier institutions. Before entering the national service, she cleared the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam in 2017 and served as a Circle Officer in Siang district, where her commitment and professionalism were widely recognised. From UPSC rank to parade ground Yangki secured an All India Rank of 545 in the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Examination, one of the toughest competitive exams in the world. Her selection to the IPS marks a historic first for women from Arunachal Pradesh, a state that had yet to see female representation in the national police cadre. On October 17, 2025, she proudly marched at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad as part of the 77th batch of IPS officers, which notably had a record 36% female representation — a milestone for gender diversity in India’s top policing ranks. Images from the parade showed Yangki in uniform, saluting with poise and determination — a symbolic moment for the hill state she represents. Inspiring women of the Northeast Yangki’s success has resonated deeply in the Northeastern region, where representation in national services remains limited, particularly for women. Her achievement has sparked pride across Arunachal Pradesh and beyond, with many calling her a trailblazer for future generations. Social media platforms have been flooded with congratulatory messages. Many users described her story as “a moment of pride for the entire Northeast,” while others highlighted how her example would encourage young women to pursue careers in civil and police services. “She has shown that with determination, education, and discipline, barriers of geography and gender can be broken,” said a faculty member from JNU, her alma mater. A message of hope and perseverance For Tenzin Yangki, the journey has been one of consistency, hard work, and purpose. From clearing state services to succeeding at the national level, her rise exemplifies the power of persistence. Her achievement also reflects the growing participation of women in India’s police forces. According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), women now make up around 12% of India’s total police personnel, a figure that continues to rise each year. As Yangki embarks on her IPS career, she carries not just her family’s proud legacy, but also the aspirations of countless young women from the Northeast who now see themselves represented in the nation’s highest law enforcement ranks.
