In a world where leadership is often measured in power, a new generation of Indian civil servants is showing that real leadership is measured in people. These IAS and IPS officers are transforming governance into compassion, courage, and creativity proving that public service, when led with heart, can truly change lives.
Each of these four officers from Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu, from rural education to gender-inclusive climate action embodies the spirit of Take Care International Foundation: service that uplifts, empowers, and inspires.
💫 Mugdha Sinha – The Visionary Bureaucrat Bridging Culture, Technology, and People
When Mugdha Sinha was in fifth grade, she wrote down her life goal: “I want to be an IAS officer.” That dream, passed down through generations, became her reality when she secured 8th rank in the UPSC exams.
From trekking through the rugged hills of Rajasthan as a young BDO to becoming the first woman District Collector of Jhunjhunu, Sinha’s journey has been one of fearless determination. She took on illegal mining mafias, faced political pushback, and still stood tall guided by her unwavering belief in ethical governance.
As the Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) today, Mugdha has reimagined the tourism-governance interface by introducing AI-powered analytics, smart contracting, and cultural digitization. Her “Festival of Libraries” and mapping of museums under the GLAM initiative showcase her vision of a connected, knowledge-rich India.
“Public service is not about control; it’s about connection,” she says. “When you listen, you lead.”
🌱 Supriya Sahu – The Green Reformer Who Made Conservation a People’s Movement
An IAS officer from the 1991 Tamil Nadu cadre, Supriya Sahu has always believed that protecting the planet is protecting people.
During her tenure as District Collector of the Nilgiris, she led India’s earliest campaigns against single-use plastic decades before it became mainstream and even set a Guinness World Record by planting 42,182 trees in a single drive.
Now, as Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, she’s pioneered India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve, the Slender Loris Sanctuary, and the Nilgiri Tahr Project restoring biodiversity and local pride.
But Supriya’s magic lies in her inclusivity: through her “Meendum Manjapai” campaign, she empowered women’s groups to produce eco-friendly cloth bags, turning climate action into community empowerment.
Her innovative “Thaila ATMs” (cloth bag vending machines) are now a symbol of green entrepreneurship across Indian cities.
“Sustainability must include everyone,” Supriya says. “From the forest ranger to the homemaker it’s a shared mission.”
📚 Avhad Nivrutti Somnath – The Young Officer Building Digital Libraries for Rural India
At just 28, Avhad Nivrutti Somnath is already proving that age has nothing to do with impact. Born in a small village in Maharashtra, Avhad left his corporate job to join the IAS in 2021 and he’s been rewriting rural narratives ever since.
In Rajasthan’s Dholpur district, one of India’s most underserved regions, he launched “Kitab Ka Pehla Panna” a civic education movement inspiring over 50,000 students to recite and understand India’s Constitution daily.
He also established Digital Samvidhan Ghars modern libraries built from unused government spaces giving rural youth access to books, internet, and opportunity. Managed by community committees, these spaces have become hubs for women’s groups, learners, and changemakers.
“Every village should have not just a school, but a space for dreams,” Avhad says. “Education is where empowerment begins.”
🕊️ Veerendra Mishra – The IPS Officer Breaking Cycles of Exploitation
When IPS officer Veerendra Mishra was posted in Madhya Pradesh’s Narsinghgarh, he witnessed something that would change his life forever the generational cycle of sex work in the Bedia community.
Instead of turning away, Mishra took action. Through his NGO Samvedna, he began educating and rehabilitating children from vulnerable communities, giving them a chance at dignity and hope.
Today, over 5,500 children across 60 villages have been reached, educated, and empowered through his initiatives. His RACE Lab India’s first anti-human trafficking lab focuses on research, prevention, and reintegration, blending data with compassion to tackle one of society’s deepest wounds.
“Policing is not just about law enforcement,” he says. “It’s about human restoration.”
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