Left London to serve India, brought water to UP village: Divya Mittal ends 13-year IAS career

Divya Mittal, a 42-year-old Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, announced her voluntary resignation from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after a 13-year career. In her social media post, she expressed gratitude and emotional fulfillment, reflecting on the impact her work had made, particularly in Mirzapur district where she brought piped water to the previously waterless Lahuria Dah village.

Mittal, who holds an IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore degree, grew up in modest surroundings and returned to India from her London job as an exotic derivatives trader, feeling her calling was to serve her country. She served in various districts, including Meerut, Gonda, Kanpur Nagar, Bareilly, Sant Kabir Nagar, Deoria, and Mirzapur, where she gained recognition for her innovative administrative methods, including using social media to communicate directly with the public.

Her tenure in Mirzapur, specifically, brought her considerable attention, as her efforts led to the provision of essential water services to Lahuria Dah village. Upon her resignation, Mittal revealed plans to pursue academia and write about her experiences, while also speculations emerged about her potential entry into politics.