UPSC is the dream exam of any aspirant who wants to work for the society and development of the country. Any officers who become famous or on the top list are due to their dedication and hard work for society. These IAS officers have dedicated their lives and quality time to improving the lives of the people of India and its development. In this blog, we will discuss the top 10 IAS officers in India. We will discuss their achievements after joining the service and also highlight the work done by these officers in developing society and their positive impact on the young minds of India.
They have bravely taken steps that inspire the young generation of India, motivating them to work for society. This is why lakhs of students enrol in the UPSC course every year. They are working hard to crack the most challenging exam in India and are ready to face struggles and to become the best IAS officers in India.
Role and responsibilities of an IAS officer
- The primary responsibility of an IAS officer is to ensure that any government policies or programmes are implemented and reach the beneficiaries.
- In times of crisis in the country, such as natural disasters like floods, droughts, or any internal disturbance, and in times of emergency in the country, IAS officers have to coordinate with different government departments to maintain law and order in the country.
- Indian administrative service officers are also responsible for development projects related to education, health, infrastructure, and other areas in the country.
- An IAS officer is also responsible for managing government funds to effectively use them and their implementation of the fund, and advising ministries in making decisions by giving them ground-level insights into the problem.
Top 10 IAS officers in India
1. Armstrong Pame
Armstrong Pame is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of the 2009 batch. Armstrong Pame is known as “Miracle Man” as he built a 100 km road by raising money through crowdfunding on Facebook. This road is known as the “People’s Road” connecting Manipur to Nagaland and Assam. By doing this, he set an example for others, and for his efforts in building the road with public contributions and volunteers, he was invited to Facebook headquarters in California. He graduated in Physics (Hons.) from St. Stephen’s College, under the University.
Armstrong Pame belongs to the Zeme Naga of the Zeliangrong community from Manipur. He was awarded the “Most Eminent IAS Officer Award 2015” and “India’s Distinguished IAS Officers Award 2022.” The World Economic Forum also declared him a Young Global Leader of the class of 2018. Armstrong Pame’s work teaches people that when you want to do your best for people and try hard, then everyone will unite to help you achieve your target.
2. Samita Sabharwal
Smita Sabharwal is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 2001 batch. She is popularly known as “The People’s Officer” for addressing citizen issues by involving people. She became the first lady IAS Officer appointed to the Chief Minister’s Office.
She graduated in commerce from St Francis College for Women, Hyderabad. She was the all-India topper in the ICSE exam. She was 22 when she cleared the Union Public Service Commission exam in 2000, at 22, and secured the All India fourth rank. She was awarded the “Indian Express Devi Award- 2015” for innovation and dynamism. She proves that when someone wants to achieve something, no matter what the path they have to take, in the end, people achieve success in life and become an Ideal for others.
3. Dr Raju Narayana Swamy
Raju Narayana Swamy is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1991 batch with the All India first rank. Due to his hard work and dedication towards the people of India and work, Narayanaswamy was chosen as one of the three IAS officers by the chief minister to investigate corruption in the state. Narayanaswamy has held several posts and has been repeatedly penalised for exposing corruption, leading to 31 transfers in 33 years.
Narayanaswamy has completed his B. Tech. degree in Computer Science from IIT Madras. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Amrita University (2011) and a Ph.D. in Law from Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (2022).
Narayanaswamy has written thirty-four books and received the Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award from IIT Kanpur in 2018 for professional integrity in upholding human values. He was an international observer of the 2018 Zimbabwean general election. He has authored more than 300 research papers.
4. B K Chaturvedi
K. Chaturvedi is an Indian civil servant and belongs to the 1966 batch of the Indian Administrative Service. B. K. Chaturvedi was born in Uttar Pradesh. He holds a master’s degree in Physics from Allahabad University, with specialisation in Electronics. He studied public administration at Manchester University, U.K. He was a member of the Planning Commission.
This Indian Civil Servant has risen to the highest position in the Civil Service as the Cabinet Secretary and has made major contributions in policy making and its implementation. He was also a member of the board of UNDP and UNICEF.
He was awarded one of India’s highest civilian awards, Padma Bhushan, by the President of India in the year 2010. He has experience in the functioning of the Government at different levels for more than four decades, which helps him in making good decisions.
5. Awanish Kumar Sharan
Awainash Kumar Sharan is a retired IAS officer from the Bihar Cadre of the 2002 batch. He was born in a small village called Kevata, Samastipur, Bihar. He was a dreamer of becoming an IAS officer from childhood and worked hard to achieve it, regardless of the facilities and guidance available to him, and in 2002 he achieved his dream.
Recently, he posted in Barlampur district of Chhattisgarh as a director of the technical and employment department. He set the example for those students who are slow learners or not bright students, he proved that marks and failure can always be defeated by hard work and consistency. He cracked the UPSC exam with an all-India rank of 77 in his second attempt.
6. Vinod Rai
Vinod Rai is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service of the 1972 batch from the Kerala cadre. Vinod Rai is a former IAS officer who served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He is the current chairman of the UN Panel of External Auditors and Honorary Advisor to the Indian Railways, and a member of the Railway Kaya Kalp Council.
He belongs to Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, and an MPA from Harvard University, USA, in 1988. He is the chairman of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors and a member of the Governing Board of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
7. U.Sagayam
Sagayam joined the Central Secretariat Service after qualifying through the Civil Services Examination in 1989. Sagayam belongs to Perunchunai village, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. He received his master’s degrees in social work and in law. U. Sagayam is a former career Indian civil servant who formerly served as Vice Chairman of Science City Chennai.
During his career, he served both in the Indian Administrative Service, as an officer in the Tamil Nadu cadre, and the Central Secretariat Service. Sagayam is a person who follows ethics in life, and this is proved by his office door that bears a sign reading “Reject bribes, hold your head high”.
Sagayam’s efforts to eliminate corruption reportedly led to 26 transfers in the first 29 years of his career.
8. Ira Singhal
Ira Singhal is an Indian Administrative Service officer and computer science engineer. She was the highest-scoring individual in the UPSC’s Civil Services Examination for the year 2014. She completed her Bachelor’s of Engineering from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, University of Delhi, and MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. Singhal topped the UPSC exam in her fourth attempt and created history by becoming the first differently abled woman to top the civil services exam.
Singhal was born in Meerut. Her father is an engineer, and her mother is an insurance advisor. She has physical disability as authorities cited her inability to push, pull, and lift. She was refused a posting because she has scoliosis. Before joining the administration service, she proved herself that she can live a better life by working as a Strategy Manager in Cadbury India and as a marketing intern at the Coca-Cola Company. She has also taught Spanish for a year, but her passion to serve society motivates her to take the toughest exam in India, that is UPSC and work for the well-being of society.
She has been posted as an Assistant Collector in the Government of Delhi since June 2016. She tries to bring equality by giving a full-time job to a transgender person in a government office in Delhi. She is currently serving as the Special Secretary for education in Arunachal Pradesh.
9.Durga Shakti Nagpal
Durga Shakti Nagpal is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre of the 2010 batch and obtained an All India Rank of 20 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2009. At present, she is posted as a DM & Collector of Lakhimpur Kheri. She proves her bravery by launching a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining within her jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar as Joint Magistrate.
Durga Nagpal belonged to Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Her father is a retired government officer who was awarded the President’s Medal for distinguished service at the Delhi Cantonment Board. She graduated from the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University in 2007 with an undergraduate degree in computer engineering.
She came into the eyes of everyone after acting against the “sand mafia” in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. She led special investigation teams to stop the illegal sand mining in the Yamuna and Hindon river banks.
10. TN Seshan
Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan cleared the UPSC civil services examination in 1954. Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan belongs to Thirunellai Village in Palakkad, Kerala. His father was a lawyer in a district court. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Madras Christian College. He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1996. He was an Indian civil servant who served with the Indian Administrative Service, and after service, he served as a politician.
In 1989, TN Seshan served as the 18th Cabinet Secretary of India and was appointed the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India. He is known for his electoral reforms brought during his service period. Some of the reforms he implemented are the enforcement of the election code of conduct, Voter IDs for all eligible voters, and a limit on election candidates’ expenditure.
He also tries to remove many malpractices from society, like bribing or intimidating voters, distribution of liquor during elections, use of government funds and machinery for campaigning, appealing to voters’ caste or communal feelings, use of places of worship for campaigns, use of loudspeakers and high volume music without prior written permission. All these changes ensure a free and fair election in the country. In 1996, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service.
Impact of famous IAS officers on society
IAS Officers not only help the government in managing funds and giving advice to the ministers of the country they also have a positive impact on society by improving the public service, implementing the government policies and schemes, and making the policies and schemes reachable to the needy people that bhelps in the upliftment of the society.
The young generation is getting motivation and courage from the successful IAS Officers in India to curb corruption in the system and is working hard to make the country a better place to live in.
Conclusion
These best IAS officers in India, represent the dedication towards the Indian Administrative Service and commitment to public welfare. The journey of these officers is filled with courage, bravery, and confidence to curb corruption in society.
Famous IAS Officers in India have resilience in adapting to new environments, the ability to innovate new techniques for society, and unwavering dedication in facing challenges continue to inspire the youth and future generations of India, Also, they set benchmarks for public administration in India.
They are not just successful IAS officers in India but are administrative faces who have significantly contributed to shaping a better future for the country and building a positive environment in the country, and making it the best place to live in with all public facilities that are available to the people of India.
