From beauty pageant winner to Army officer: Meet Major Garima Yadav, the first woman ADC to UP governor

Major Garima Yadav's journey from preparing for the civil services examination to serving at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow marks a significant milestone for women in the Indian Army. An officer of the Army Service Corps (ASC), she became the first woman Indian Army officer to be appointed Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh on September 14, 2025. She currently serves in the role alongside Governor Anandiben Patel, combining her military career with the ceremonial and administrative responsibilities of a constitutional office.

Yadav's career path has included an unsuccessful attempt at the Civil Services Examination, a strong performance in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination and a decision to pursue military service despite opportunities in other fields. Her appointment at Raj Bhavan highlights the range of assignments available to Army officers and represents a notable step for women in roles traditionally associated with male officers.

Major Garima Yadav's education and entry into the Indian Army

Yadav studied at Army Public School in Dagshai before graduating in Economics from St Stephen's College in Delhi. She initially aimed to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and prepared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. However, she was unable to clear the Mains examination and subsequently explored a different career path.

She turned to the Armed Forces and appeared for the CDS Examination. In CDS 1 2017, she secured All India Rank 2 and was recommended for the Indian Army in her first Services Selection Board (SSB) attempt.

Following her selection, Yadav joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai for military training. She was commissioned into the Indian Army on March 9, 2019, beginning her career as an Army officer after moving away from her original civil services ambition.

From a beauty pageant win to military service

Yadav's journey also included an achievement outside academics and military training. In November 2017, she won the India's Miss Charming Face beauty pageant. Reports said she had an opportunity to participate in an international beauty pageant in Italy, but chose to focus on her ambition of becoming an Army officer.

She subsequently joined the Army Service Corps, which plays an important role in sustaining military operations through logistics, supplies and transportation. Officers in the corps work across logistical and administrative functions, where planning, coordination and resource management are central to their responsibilities.

Her career progression has taken her from preparation for competitive examinations to military service and, eventually, an appointment supporting the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

What does Major Garima Yadav do as ADC to the UP Governor?

An Aide-de-Camp assists a senior constitutional or military dignitary during official engagements. In a Governor's office, the position involves supporting ceremonial functions, official visits, scheduled programmes and protocol arrangements. The role also requires coordination with the Governor's Secretariat, government departments and other institutions involved in official events.

Yadav assumed her appointment on September 14, 2025, becoming the first woman Indian Army officer to serve as ADC to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. The assignment marked a milestone in the representation of women Army officers in ceremonial and administrative roles.

Her duties have included accompanying the Governor during public and institutional engagements. On July 21, 2026, Yadav accompanied Anandiben Patel on a visit to Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut. During the visit, the Governor reviewed the university's infrastructure and development activities. The institution's official report identified Yadav as the Governor's ADC.

Yadav also discussed her journey through the CDS examination, SSB selection process and military training in an interaction with SSBCrack in March 2019, shortly after her commissioning. She spoke about the support she received from her mother during her journey.

From preparing for the UPSC examination to training at OTA Chennai and serving at Raj Bhavan, Yadav's career reflects a series of decisions that led her into military service and a distinctive constitutional assignment. Her appointment also offers an example of the professional opportunities available to women officers in the Indian Army.