IAS Officer Divya Mittal Resigns After 13 Years in Service

AI FEED

2013-batch IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her resignation from government service.
She was serving as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department.
Mittal described her 13 years in public service as an unforgettable experience.

NEW DELHI: IAS officer Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch officer, has announced her resignation from government service after nearly 13 years in public administration.

Mittal, who was serving as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department, shared an emotional message on social media while reflecting on her journey, the people she served and the experiences that shaped her career.

Divya Mittal Recalls Journey From IIT Delhi to IAS

In her message, Mittal recalled growing up in modest circumstances and pursuing higher education at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore.

After completing her education, she worked in London. However, despite achieving professional success abroad, she said she continued to feel a strong connection with India.

That sense of belonging eventually influenced her decision to return to the country and pursue a career in public service.

She later joined the Indian Administrative Service and began what would become a 13-year journey in government.

Lessons From Different Administrative Postings

Reflecting on her various assignments, Mittal said each place she served taught her important lessons about leadership, responsibility and public administration.

She recalled her experience in Deoria, where she said she learned the importance of standing up for what is right.

Her posting in Mirzapur, meanwhile, taught her that seemingly impossible tasks can often be overcome with determination.

According to Mittal, her experiences also reinforced the idea that authority does not simply come from holding an official position. Instead, public trust and the ability to serve people effectively are what give an administrator real influence.

‘Behind Every Government File Is a Person’

Mittal said some of the most meaningful moments of her career came while witnessing tangible changes in people’s lives.

She recalled families receiving land rights, persons with disabilities gaining opportunities to live with dignity and farmers benefiting from improved access to water.

These experiences, she said, changed the way she viewed government work.

Rather than seeing administration merely as files, procedures and official decisions, she came to understand that every government decision ultimately affects an individual or family.

Elderly Woman’s Blessing Remains With Her

One particular memory that Mittal highlighted was an elderly woman from Lahuriya Dah who blessed her after water finally reached her village.

Mittal said the woman’s gesture had left a lasting impression on her and would remain with her even after leaving government service.

The experience, she suggested, represented the kind of human connection that made her years in public service meaningful.

‘I Received More Than I Could Give’

In her farewell message, Mittal also expressed gratitude towards the people and colleagues she encountered during her career.

She said she initially believed that entering public service meant giving something to society. Over time, however, she realised that she had personally received much more through the trust, affection and support of the people around her.

She also credited fellow officers, colleagues and staff members who worked alongside her during challenging assignments.

Divya Mittal Leaves Post, Not Her Larger Dream

Although Mittal has stepped down from her official position, she indicated that her commitment to the larger vision that brought her into public service remains unchanged.

Her message suggested that resignation from the IAS does not necessarily represent an end to her desire to contribute to society.

Mittal had earlier relinquished her position as Deoria District Magistrate on May 6 and was subsequently serving in the Revenue Department as Special Secretary.