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, from the Kerala cadre, is respected for his fight against corruption and push for transparent governance. His impressive academic background, including a PhD and a Homi Bhabha Fellowship in Cyber Law, supports his work in data-driven governance. All in all, Raju Narayana Swamy’s efforts have been on another level to improve election integrity highlighting his commitment to democratic values and justice.
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.
