UPSC member P Kilemsungla gets Padma Shri

NEW DELHI: P Kilemsungla, the first woman from Nagaland to become UPSC member, has been chosen for this year's Padma Shri award.

62-year-old Kilemsungla, who hails from Kohima in the north eastern state, has been selected for the Padma Shri for her contribution in the field of literature and education.

She was appointed as member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts prestigious civil services examination to select IAS, IPS and IFS officers among others, on August 19 last year.

She had served as a member of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) between February 1, 2007 and September 12, 2012 and also worked as acting chairperson of NPSC from September 13, 2012 till her retirement on January 31.

A noted educationist, Kilemsungla was a lecturer in Kohima Arts College and also taught at the Nagaland College of Teachers Education (NCTE).

Another former UPSC member Parveen Talha is among 101 recipients of Padma Shri award.

Talha, the first Muslim woman to enter any Class-I civil service through the Civil Services examination, has been selected for Padma Shri for her contribution in civil service.

She was also the first Muslim woman to be appointed UPSC member.

Talha, a former officer of Indian Revenue Service--Customs and Central Excise, became UPSC member on September 30, 2004 and held office till October 3, 2009.