You might have seen many IAS and IPS officers going viral on social media, right? For most of you, the Indian Administrative Service Officer post might seem appealing just because of the status of this job and the reputation you get. But you earn a real reputation when you do as good a job as you can while following the law and staying true to your morals. That’s what matters. Today, we are here to talk about the top 10 famous IAS officers in India as of 2024, who are particularly famous for all the right reasons. So let’s have a look at who we have included in this list. Alright, here we go.
1. Armstrong Pame
First up, we must talk about Armstrong Pame who is an IAS officer from Manipur. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 2008 after successfully clearing the examination. As an IAS officer, he was the first from his community. Facing numerous challenges, his dedication enabled him to receive respect from his fraternity and gain fame in his home state of Manipur. This IAS officer is best known to have led the construction of a 100-km road in Tousem. He had constructed this without a single penny of government funds, as otherwise, it has greatly improved access for many people to healthcare and education support services. The road, completed in 2012, is now known as the “Miracle Road,” constructed from community donations and some from his own contributions, reflecting the magnificence of his leadership. This was quite a milestone, and his hard work was rewarded with the People of the Year award by CNN-IBN in 2012.
2. Aruna Sund
Aruna Sundararajan put the country on a never-before irreversible track of administrative reform in general and in the specific sectors of telecommunications and women’s esteem. Through strategic policy as Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, she helped to extend broadband and digital services to the rural nooks of India, thus abolishing digital discrimination and empowering these communities with better education, employment, and health services. Sundararajan was also at the spearhead of advocating women’s rights, leading from the front with the Kudumbashree project in Kerala.
3. Smita Sabharwal
Sabharwal Smita, the “People’s Officer,” is the youngest IAS officer in the country known for transforming public service in Karimnagar, situated in today’s Telangana. She has greatly influenced the districts of Karimnagar with regard to education, the medical field, and most importantly, women’s matters. Her “Smart Village, Smart Ward” initiative has given fresh meaning to development through technological interventions and, of course, the participation of the people in communities to ensure great infrastructure and living conditions.
4. Ashok Khemka
An IAS officer from Haryana, Ashok Khemka is known for his fierce fight against corruption in the system. He was transferred over 50 times in his career for taking a stance on corrupt practices, but Khemka’s resolve to make governance in the state free from corruption did not shatter. The most significant of his orders was the cancellation of a controversial land transaction in which many top political figures were involved. His act brought him national recognition and highlighted a deeper issue in land transactions. Later in life, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2018.
5. Durga Shakti Nagpal
Durga Shakti Nagpal is, however, known for her fearless stand against illegality and bold commitment to the rule of law. She rose to fame when she stood strong against illegal sand mining in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which checked activities that damage ecology and saved government revenues. She continued her duties amid suspension and political backlash. But no matter the corruption, she is still one of the fearless IAS officers out there, still doing the duty for the good sake of the general public and country.
6. Hari Chandana Dasari
Hari Chandana Dasari is a popular lady IAS officer from Telangana, known for her work in the field of environmental sustainability. She has kicked off the initiatives of waste plastic recycling in Hyderabad, and as the then collector of Narayanpet, initiated projects like Pet Parks and She Toilets. Her ‘Feed The Need’ program had gained a good few appraisals, as it addressed the issue of hunger and, at the same time, food wastage through public refrigerators for the needy.
7. Raju Narayana Swamy
Dr. Raju Narayana Swamy is an IAS officer highly known for his staunch stand against corruption. His relentless fight against illegal land dealings, real-estate businessmen and political bureaucrats comes from his ‘stubborn’ nature, when things turn ‘unjustifiable’. He has found immense support from the common man.
Dr.Raju Narayana Swamy is very famous for his stint as District Collector of Idukki where he spearheaded the demolition of unauthorized resorts in Munnar, which led to the resignation of a Minister and was applauded by the people of Kerala. His success as a civil servant has blossomed over the years because he focused on public service delivery through use of technology in governance and for transparency while engaging with the people through various positions he held .
Profile
His anti-corruption campaigns have seen unprecedented rise in his fan following. In 2018, IIT Kanpur conferred upon him the prestigious Satyendra K Dubey Memorial Award for maintaining highest professional integrity and honesty while serving his duty.
Born into a middle-class family in Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram in 1968, Mr. Swamy grew up in an academic environment with both his parents as professors. With no lack of inspiration at home and heightened interest in academics, he excelled in studies throughout his school days and received many accolades. He stood first in the State of Kerala in SSLC (1983) and first in University in Pre- degree (1985). In 1989, he obtained a B.Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Madras and ranked first. Despite a full scholarship from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he decided to build a career in Civil Services. He opted for mathematics and physics, two of his favourite subjects. He secured all India first rank in Civil Services Examination 1990 and joined the Kerala Cadre.
In his administrative career, he has held several key portfolios including District Collector of five districts, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Kerala Government; Director of Fisheries and of Collegiate Education; Managing Director of Marketing Federation; and Commissioner in the Civil Supplies Department. He was also Chairman, Coconut Development Board, Govt of India. He is also an Election Specialist, having been deputed for 36 elections in 17 states across the country apart from being an international observer for the 2018 Zimbabwe Elections. Due to his uncompromising stand against corruption, he has earned the wrath of bureaucrats and politicians. In his 32 years of service, he has faced 30 transfers. His anti-corruption drives have earned him many accords, for instance, he was felicitated with the Fourth IRDS award from the Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), a Lucknow based civil society.
Mr. Swamy had a difficult career marked with transfers. In those tumultuous times, he found his solace in writing. Reading and writing provided him the much-needed creative outlet and he went on to publish 32 books. His writings are as powerful as his image and are rooted in certain values. His most popular one being Nano Muthal Nakshatram Vare. He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his travelogue Santhimantram Muzhangunna Thazvarayil. For children’s literature, he was awarded the Bhim Gold Medal and Kunhunni Awards.
Mr. Swamy has a quest for knowledge and treats learning as a game. He holds a post-graduate diploma in IPR from the National Law School, Bengaluru; a professional diploma in Public Procurement from the World Bank; two doctorate degrees and the prestigious Homi Bhabha Fellowship in Cyber law.
8. Vinod Rai
Vinod Rai, the former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, played a key role in promoting government transparency. His audits, especially on the 2G spectrum scam, exposed major corruption and boosted the anti-corruption movement in India. Back then, he rose to fame in India, and he still continues to inspire current and future public servants to uphold integrity and transparency.
9. Ira Singhal
Ira Singhal is one of the noted IAS officers from Delhi. She was the first differently-abled lady to get through to and top the UPSC Civil Services examination in 2015. With a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard, she has mostly dedicated her efforts to ensuring that government services reach all, especially the differently-abled. And that effort of hers made her a big name in India, mainly because she believes in serving the general public.
10. Tina Dabi
Social justice and empowerment of women are the two areas on which a young and energetic IAS officer, Tina Dabi, hailing from Rajasthan, has created an awe-inspiring impression. She was the first Dalit woman to top the UPSC Civil Services Exam in 2015. Her work focus has been centered around ways to enhance infrastructure, health facilities, and education in the countryside, with special emphasis on women and other underprivileged people being able to make good use of them. So that’s the very reason why she deserves a spot on this list.
Conclusion
There you have it. And it isn’t like other than there are no famous IAS officers in the country, there ARE. But the thing is, these were the personalities that made everyone appreciate them even more in the current times, and that’s the very reason why we have included them in this list.
