Transgender or third gender may soon be introduced as a new category in UPSC application forms. The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to take necessary steps to “expeditiously” modify the rules regarding the prestigious civil services examinations to incorporate transgender or third gender in the exam application forms.

• Referring to the landmark judgement passed by the Supreme Court on April 15, 2014 granting legal recognition to transgenders or eunuchs as third category of gender, a bench asked the Centre to take urgent steps in this regard.

• The additional solicitor general (ASG) had told the bench that an application seeking clarification that the April 2014 judgment was related only to transgenders and did not include gay, lesbian or bisexual, was disposed of in June 2016 by apex court which had reiterated that lesbians, gays and bisexuals were not third gender.