IAS officer Divya Mittal resigns after 13 years: 'Power comes from people, not post'
Synopsis
A 2013-batch IAS officer who gave up a London job to serve India has now walked away from the service itself — with a message that power belongs to the people, not the post. Divya Mittal's resignation letter is less a farewell and more a public reckoning with what 13 years in the bureaucracy actually taught her.
Key Takeaways
Divya Mittal , a 2013-batch IAS officer , resigned from the Indian Administrative Service on 30 August .
She was serving as Special Secretary, Revenue Department at the time of her resignation.
She had earlier resigned as Deoria District Magistrate on 6 May .
Mittal cited the trust of ordinary people — farmers, persons with disabilities, landless families — as the defining experience of her 13-year career.
Before the IAS, she studied at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore and worked in London before choosing to return to India.
She said her commitment to her country's development would continue beyond her tenure in the civil services.
IAS officer Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch officer serving as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department, announced her resignation from the Indian Administrative Service on Sunday, 30 August, concluding what she called an 'unforgettable' 13-year journey in public service. In an emotional post on X, Mittal said she was leaving her position but not the dream her country had given her.
From IIT Delhi to the IAS
Mittal's path to the civil services was shaped by a deliberate choice to return home. After studying at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, she secured a job in London — yet found the achievement hollow. 'Even after attaining everything, something still felt incomplete. Being away from my country weighed on me,' she wrote.
She described her education, confidence, and global mobility as a debt owed to Indian soil. 'I wanted my handprints on the bricks that would build the India I had dreamed of. So I returned, and was fortunate enough to become an IAS officer,' she said.
Lessons from the Field
Reflecting on her postings, Mittal said each district left a distinct imprint. Deoria taught her that standing up for what is right was 'not a choice but a responsibility.' Mirzapur showed her that 'impossible' was 'not a fact but simply an opinion.'
A moment that stayed with her most vividly: an elderly woman from the hill of Lahuriya Dah who blessed her after water reached her village for the first time. 'I may have left my post today, but that touch will remain with me for life,' she wrote.
What She Said About Power and Public Service
Mittal's resignation post drew wide attention for its candid reflection on the nature of authority. 'I learned that true power comes not from any position, but from the trust of the people,' she wrote. She said the real solace of her career lay in the eyes of families who received land rights for the first time, persons with disabilities given a chance to live with dignity, and farmers whose fields finally got water.
'Walking alongside their struggles, I learned that behind every government file is a person, and upholding their dignity is what justice truly means,' she added. She also acknowledged colleagues and staff who 'worked shoulder to shoulder' with her throughout her career.
Resignation Timeline
Mittal had earlier resigned as Deoria District Magistrate on 6 May. Her formal resignation from the IAS was announced on 30 August. She has not publicly stated her next steps, but indicated her commitment to the broader vision of public good would continue beyond the service.
'Neither will the dream that this land of our country has given me. It will remain the same. Not a single detail will change,' she wrote, signalling that her departure from the IAS is not a withdrawal from public life.
Point of View
Politics, or something else entirely will determine whether this departure is a beginning or simply an end.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Divya Mittal and why did she resign from the IAS?
Divya Mittal is a 2013-batch IAS officer who served most recently as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department of Uttar Pradesh. She announced her resignation on 30 August, saying she was leaving her post but not her commitment to the country's development. She described her 13-year career as 'unforgettable' and said true power comes from the trust of the people, not from any position.
What did Divya Mittal say in her resignation post on X?
In her post on X, Mittal reflected on her journey from humble beginnings to IIT Delhi, IIM Bangalore, and a job in London — which she left to return to India and join the IAS. She spoke about lessons learned in Deoria and Mirzapur, and described moments such as an elderly woman's blessing after water reached her village for the first time as the true measure of her service.
When did Divya Mittal resign as Deoria District Magistrate?
Divya Mittal resigned as Deoria District Magistrate on 6 May. Her formal resignation from the IAS was announced later, on 30 August.
What is Divya Mittal's educational background?
Divya Mittal studied at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore before taking up a job in London. She returned to India and cleared the civil services examination, joining the IAS in the 2013 batch.
What will Divya Mittal do after leaving the IAS?
Mittal has not publicly announced her next steps. However, in her resignation post she said her dream for the country 'will remain the same — not a single detail will change,' indicating she intends to continue working toward public good outside the civil services.
