Major Garima Yadav Becomes First Woman Indian Army ADC to Uttar Pradesh Governor
Major Garima Yadav of the Indian Army’s Army Service Corps has become the first woman officer from the Army to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She took charge on September 14, 2025, and is currently serving as ADC to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.
The appointment is notable for two reasons: Major Yadav is the first woman Indian Army officer to hold this post, and also the first woman overall to serve as ADC to the Governor in Uttar Pradesh. The role places her in close support of the Governor during official engagements, ceremonial events, institutional visits and other protocol-related duties.
As ADC, she works with the Governor’s Secretariat and coordinates with government departments and institutional authorities to help manage official programmes and engagements. Her position therefore combines protocol, administrative coordination and representation at the Raj Bhavan level.
Major Garima Yadav was commissioned into the Indian Army on March 9, 2019, after completing her training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. She belongs to the Army Service Corps, which provides supply, transport and logistical support to Army operations. During her service, she has held a range of operational and administrative appointments, building experience in logistics, leadership, coordination and administration.
Before joining the armed forces, she studied at Army Public School, Dagshai, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. She initially prepared for the Civil Services Examination with the aim of becoming an Indian Administrative Service officer, but did not clear the Mains examination.
Her path later shifted to the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, where she performed strongly. She secured All India Rank 2 in CDS 1 2017 and was recommended for the Indian Army in her first Services Selection Board (SSB) attempt. Following selection, she underwent the rigorous training at OTA Chennai before being commissioned in 2019.
Major Yadav’s pre-Army journey also included a pageant win. In November 2017, she won India’s Miss Charming Face beauty pageant. She reportedly had an opportunity to participate in an international beauty pageant in Italy, but chose to pursue a career as an Army officer instead.
Her public profile rose further after her appointment in Uttar Pradesh, but she had already drawn attention earlier for her unusual and determined career trajectory. In an interview with SSBCrack in March 2019, soon after commissioning, she spoke about her preparation for the CDS examination, her SSB experience and her training at OTA Chennai. She also credited her mother for encouraging and supporting her ambitions.
On July 21, 2026, her role as Governor’s ADC was visible during an official visit to Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut, where Governor Anandiben Patel reviewed the institution’s infrastructure and development work. An official report from the university identified Major Garima Yadav as the Governor’s ADC during the visit.
Her appointment has drawn attention not only as a first for the Indian Army and for Uttar Pradesh Raj Bhavan, but also because it reflects the wider responsibilities now being entrusted to women officers in military and constitutional institutions. From preparing for the civil services to clearing the CDS examination, from pageant participation to Army commissioning and now a prestigious assignment at Raj Bhavan, Lucknow, Major Garima Yadav’s career has followed an unconventional but closely watched path.
