She failed UPSC Mains before securing All India Rank 2 in CDS 1 2017; Major Garima Yadav became the first woman Army officer to serve as UP Governor’s ADC. (Photo: IG)
Major Garima Yadav’s career has taken her from preparing for the civil services examination to serving in the Indian Army and eventually taking up a historic appointment at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.
An officer of the Army Service Corps (ASC), she became the first woman Indian Army officer to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh on September 14, 2025.She currently serves as ADC to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. Her appointment also made her the first woman to hold the ADC position to the Governor in the state, marking a milestone in the representation of women officers in ceremonial and administrative assignments.
From St Stephen’s College to the Indian Army
Before joining the Armed Forces, Garima Yadav studied at Army Public School, Dagshai, and graduated in Economics from St Stephen’s College, Delhi. She initially aspired to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and prepared for the Civil Services Examination. However, she could not clear the Mains examination.She subsequently turned her attention to a career in the Armed Forces. Yadav appeared for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination and secured All India Rank 2 in CDS 1 2017.
She was also recommended for the Indian Army in her first Services Selection Board (SSB) attempt.Her selection marked a shift from her earlier civil services ambitions to military life. She joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, where she underwent training before being commissioned into the Indian Army on March 9, 2019.
She chose military service after a beauty pageant win
Yadav’s journey has also included an unexpected detour. In November 2017, she won the India’s Miss Charming Face beauty pageant.
According to reports, she had an opportunity to participate in an international beauty pageant in Italy but chose to pursue her ambition of becoming an Army officer.Her decision to enter the Armed Forces led her into a career that involves military discipline, leadership and operational responsibilities. She joined the Army Service Corps, which provides logistical support to the Army, including supplies and transportation required to sustain military operations.Officers in the ASC work across a range of logistical and administrative functions, making coordination and resource management important parts of their responsibilities.
What does an Army ADC to a Governor do?
An Aide-de-Camp assists a senior constitutional or military dignitary during official engagements. In the Governor’s office, the role involves supporting ceremonial functions, official visits and scheduled programmes, along with coordination linked to protocol.Yadav assumed the appointment on September 14, 2025, becoming the first woman Indian Army officer to serve as ADC to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. In the role, she works alongside the Governor’s Secretariat and coordinates with government departments and institutions during official engagements.Her presence at public programmes has also been recorded in institutional communications. On July 21, 2026, she accompanied Governor Anandiben Patel during a visit to Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut, where the Governor reviewed the university’s infrastructure and development activities.
The institution’s official report identified Yadav as the Governor’s ADC.
Her journey from UPSC preparation to Raj Bhavan
Yadav’s career has moved through several distinct stages: preparing for the civil services examination, switching to the CDS route, training at OTA Chennai and serving as an Army officer before taking up her current appointment.In an interaction with SSBCrack in March 2019, shortly after her commissioning, she discussed her CDS preparation, SSB experience and military training.
She also spoke about the support she received from her mother during her journey.Her appointment as ADC places her in a role that combines military service with the protocol and administrative requirements of a constitutional office. For women considering a career in the Armed Forces, her progression offers an example of the different professional paths available to officers after commissioning.Disclaimer: TOI Education has not independently verified all personal claims and career details mentioned in this article.