If you have been solving UPSC papers from 2020 onwards, you will notice a clear pattern — questions on women in India’s freedom struggle are appearing more frequently than ever. I have tracked this shift closely, and in this piece, I walk you through the ten women whose contributions UPSC seems particularly interested in testing.
Where This Topic Sits in the UPSC Syllabus
Women in the freedom movement falls squarely under GS Paper I for Mains — specifically under “Modern Indian History” and “Role of Women and Women’s Organizations.” In Prelims, factual questions about specific personalities and their associations with movements appear regularly.
| Exam Stage | Paper | Syllabus Section |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | General Studies | History of India and Indian National Movement |
| Mains | GS-I | Modern Indian History — Role of Women |
| Mains | GS-I | Social Empowerment — Women |
Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
She remains the most recognised symbol of armed resistance against British rule. During the Revolt of 1857, she led her forces in battle at Jhansi and later at Gwalior, where she died fighting. UPSC often tests her in the context of the broader 1857 revolt — not as an isolated figure but as part of the network of rebel leaders.
Begum Hazrat Mahal
Wife of the deposed Nawab of Awadh, she took charge of Lucknow during the 1857 revolt. She rallied local sepoys and taluqdars against the British. UPSC has paired her in questions alongside other 1857 leaders. She eventually took refuge in Nepal, where she died in obscurity. Her story tests whether aspirants understand the regional dimensions of the revolt.
Sarojini Naidu
The Nightingale of India was far more than a poet. She presided over the Indian National Congress session in 1925 at Kanpur — the first Indian woman to do so. She played a key role in the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Salt Satyagraha. After independence, she became the first woman Governor of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh). UPSC loves testing the “firsts” associated with her.
Annie Besant
Though Irish-born, her role in Indian politics was enormous. She founded the Home Rule League in 1916 and became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress in 1917 at the Calcutta session. She also established the Central Hindu College at Benaras, which later became BHU. Questions on her often appear in match-the-following format in Prelims.
Aruna Asaf Ali
She is most famously associated with hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement of 1942. She went underground to evade arrest and continued organising resistance. She was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1997. UPSC has tested her connection to the Quit India Movement multiple times since 2020.
Kasturba Gandhi
Often overshadowed by Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba was an active participant in the freedom struggle in her own right. She participated in the Champaran Satyagraha, the Quit India Movement, and various campaigns in South Africa. She was arrested in 1942 and died in detention at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune in 1944. UPSC tests her to check whether aspirants see her as an independent activist.
Captain Lakshmi Sahgal
She led the Rani of Jhansi Regiment — the women’s unit of the Indian National Army (INA) formed by Subhas Chandra Bose. This regiment was the first all-women combat unit in Indian history. Questions about the INA frequently include her name. Understanding her role helps you answer broader questions about the INA trials and their political impact in 1945-46.
Matangini Hazra
A 73-year-old woman who was shot dead by British police while leading a procession during the Quit India Movement in Tamluk, Bengal. She was carrying the Indian flag when she fell. Her story represents the mass participation of ordinary Indians — especially elderly women — in the freedom struggle. UPSC uses such examples to test the grassroots nature of movements.
Usha Mehta
She ran the Secret Congress Radio during the Quit India Movement in 1942, broadcasting news of the movement when the British had clamped down on the press. She was eventually caught and imprisoned. Her story connects to questions about media censorship and underground resistance during 1942.
Durgabai Deshmukh
A freedom fighter who later became a member of the Constituent Assembly. She contributed to debates on fundamental rights and social justice. She also founded the Andhra Mahila Sabha and chaired the Planning Commission’s Committee on National Education. UPSC increasingly tests her because she bridges the freedom struggle and post-independence institution building.
Why UPSC Is Testing Women Freedom Fighters More
There is a conscious effort in recent papers to move beyond the “great man” narrative of Indian history. UPSC wants aspirants to understand that the freedom movement was a mass movement — cutting across gender, caste, and region. Questions since 2020 have also connected women’s participation in the freedom struggle to contemporary debates on women’s empowerment, making this a GS-I and GS-II crossover area.
How to Prepare This Topic Effectively
I recommend creating a simple one-page table listing each woman, her movement association, region, and one unique fact. This works better than reading long biographies. For Mains, practise writing answers that link historical participation to present-day women’s political representation. Use sources like Spectrum’s Modern History and Bipin Chandra’s chapter on mass movements.
Key Points to Remember for UPSC
- Annie Besant — Home Rule League (1916), first woman INC president (1917, Calcutta)
- Sarojini Naidu — first Indian woman INC president (1925, Kanpur), first woman Governor (UP)
- Aruna Asaf Ali — flag hoisting at Gowalia Tank Maidan during Quit India, Bharat Ratna 1997
- Lakshmi Sahgal — Rani of Jhansi Regiment under INA, first women’s combat unit
- Usha Mehta — Secret Congress Radio, 1942 underground resistance
- Durgabai Deshmukh — Constituent Assembly member, Andhra Mahila Sabha founder
- Matangini Hazra — killed at age 73 during Quit India in Tamluk, Bengal
- UPSC connects women’s freedom struggle roles to modern women’s empowerment debates
This is one of those topics where a small, focused effort gives you returns across Prelims and Mains. Build a revision chart of these ten women this week, and revisit it before every test. Consistent recall of names, dates, and movement associations is what separates a correct answer from a confused guess.