By Hemant SharmaBecoming an IAS officer right here in India is the biggest dream of many, and that’s just because of the power these officers hold. Like, as an IAS officer, you’re involved in a bunch of different things like making sure everything is working smoothly in the governance, shaping policies, and even implementing reforms. Right now though, there are thousands of IAS in the country, you know, some stay behind the scenes, while some do incredible things and make their names heard everywhere, no matter what. Well, that kinda is the topic today because here we’re about to share a list of the top 10 most famous IAS officers in India, so, let’s just get to that, shall we?
1. T.N. Seshan
Think of elections where people would cheat like rigging the vote, booth capturing and abusing the government machinery, well, that was kinda what was going on at one point in India. Though, only before T.N. Seshan, and when he came, it changed completely, and for good as well. You see, back in 1990, the Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan came on board to clean up the system. But how? Oh, well, he was strict and fearless. Seshan made sure everyone had an ID card to vote and made strict rules with no power to break them.
2. Armstrong Pame
And next? Well, for those who haven’t heard of Armstrong Pame yet, yes, his story and what he did may sound almost unbelievable! Why and how? Well, you see, back in the day, because of the lack of a proper road, 40 villages were cut off from the remaining ones of the state. This is what Armstrong Pame saw. And then? Like, what did he do? Oh, well, he raised funds on his own through social media and well-wishers instead of waiting for government funds, that’s precisely what he did. And yes, in 2012, he constructed a 100 km road that transformed the lives of 1000s of villagers.
3. Smita Sabharwal
Smita Sabharwal is known as “People’s Officer” for tuning into what the people need, and that’s precisely why she deserves a spot on this list today. For a little bit of introduction here, you see, the first woman officer of the CM’s office in Telangana, you know, she wasn’t just a meeting regulars but went out into the field to sort issues. How? You must know about the fact that she implemented a scheme named “Smart Village-Smart Ward” for villages and towns.
4. U. Sagayam
No doubt, corruption is a big problem in India, but U. Sagayam refuses to let it win, and he is still at it. Like, for those who don’t know him, yes, he is a civil service officer from Tamil Nadu who has been given over 20 transfers for exposing scams and illegal activities. Why? Well, that’s just because of some high profile exposing he did, like, one of his largest findings was a granite mining case worth several crores of rupees or billion dollars.
5. Durga Shakti Nagpal
To be honest, right here in India, Illegal sand mining is a hugely lucrative business in the country that destroys rivers and their banks, and time and again, there have been many reportings on this. Though, Durga Shakti Nagpal, a bold IAS officer right here in India, chose to put a stop to it, and that’s precisely what she did. Like, while employed in UP in 2013, she organized surprise raids, seized illegal equipment, and detained people involved in the illegal sand trade, and that is why she became so famous among the general public.
6. Vinod Rai
Remember the biggest scams in India, like the 2G scam and the Coal Scam? Oh, well, Vinod Rai had something to do with the exposing of these HUGE scams in the country that had been going on for a long time under everyone’s nose. For a little bit of intro here, you see, his job was a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). So? Well, this means he was involved in checking government accounts. His papers showed how shady deals by the government caused a loss of Lakhs of Crores.
7. Ashok Khemka
To start with a hook for Ashok Khemka, well, just know that he is on this list because he refuses to be part of corrupt deals. Story? Well, you see, back in 2012, he was celebrated for cancelling the suspicious land deal of Robert Vadra, a businessman relative of the powerful political family, you know? And sure enough, as you could see this coming from miles away, yes, this angered many politicians who kept trying to sideline him. But Ashok Khemka stood his ground, and yes, that was BOLD.
8. Ira Singhal
Ira Singhal had every reason to give up. How and why? Well, just to let you know about her struggles, you see, Ira Singhal, who attempted civil services despite severe spine disorder, faced discrimination due to her scoliosis (epidemiological curve). But nah, Ira Singhal didn’t give up and instead studied hard to secure a top position in the UPSC exam in 2015. Now, look at her, she is an IAS officer.
9. Raju Narayana Swamy
Raju Narayana Swamy could have enjoyed a cushy life, like, having graduated from the elite IIT Madras, you know, he could have easily gone for a high-paying job. But nah! What did he do? Oh yes, he chooses to be an IAS officer and fight corruption, that’s all! For a little bit of his history in doing just that, you see, as Idukki’s District Collector, he shut down illegal resorts ruining the environment which even made a minister quit.
10. Anil Swarup
Alright, last on the list, let’s talk about one more bold personality who doesn’t bow to corrupt leaders, and yes, we’re talking about Anil Swarup. Why? Well, during the big Coal scam, he intervened and created a fair and transparent system of coal auctioning. Soon after that, as Secretary of School Education, Anil Swarup worked on bettering schools, training teachers, and digital learning for students.
Conclusion
That’s pretty much it. All in all, these ten famous IAS officers are a big example of how things should be carried out by someone in this position and someone who holds this much power. So, we did our part, now it is your turn to dig deeper into these IAS officers’ life stories to be inspired even more.