Former Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her entry into politics, days after stepping down from the administrative service following a 13-year career. Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer, said her political journey would begin in Uttar Pradesh, which she described as her “karmabhoomi,” but made it clear that she would not join any political party.In a video message on Tuesday, Mittal said she wanted to work directly with people and become a voice for those whose concerns, she said, often fail to reach government offices or remain unheard. She spoke about accountability, public grievances, rural infrastructure, education, recruitment examinations and employment.Her announcement came after her resignation from the IAS in August, which was accepted in September. Her political plans had been the subject of speculation since she left the service.
Divya Mittal says politics will begin in Uttar Pradesh
Announcing her next step, Mittal said she had decided to enter politics but would not work under the banner of any political party. She appealed to teachers, farmers, students, doctors, labourers, lawyers, and others to participate in what she described as a collective effort.She also drew on incidents from her administrative career to explain why she wanted to enter public life. Recalling an inspection in Lahuria Dah village in Mirzapur, she spoke about a woman who had sought a school providing education beyond Class 5. Mittal said she approved the proposal after examining the rules, but the school had still not been constructed years later.She also raised concerns over roads and bridges in rural areas, examination paper leaks, delays in recruitment and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. These are issues she has identified as areas requiring greater accountability.
From IIT Delhi to IIM Bangalore : Divya Mittal’s education journey
Long before she entered the civil services, Mittal had built an academic record spanning two of India’s premier institutions.Mittal studied Engineering Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi from 2001 to 2005. According to education details listed on her LinkedIn profile, she graduated with a CGPA of 9.07 out of 10 and ranked second in her department.After IIT Delhi, she moved to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore for an MBA. She studied there from 2005 to 2007 and, according to the same profile, graduated among the top five per cent of her batch.Her academic journey did not end with her formal degrees. Between 2019 and 2020, Mittal also completed a MicroMasters in Data, Economics and Development Policy from MITx.
From London finance job to UPSC
After completing her MBA, Mittal moved to London and began working in the financial sector. According to her LinkedIn profile, she joined JP Morgan as an Associate in April 2007 and worked there until July 2008.She subsequently returned to India and began preparing for the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination.Mittal’s UPSC journey involved two attempts. According to available reports, she cleared the examination in her first attempt and was selected for the Indian Police Service. In a subsequent attempt, she secured All India Rank 68 and entered the Indian Administrative Service. She joined the 2013 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
A 13-year journey in the Uttar Pradesh administration
Mittal went on to hold several administrative positions during her IAS career. Her assignments included a stint as an Assistant Secretary at NITI Aayog and senior roles in the Uttar Pradesh government.She served as Joint Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority and later as Vice Chairperson of the Bareilly Development Authority. She also served as District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh, including in Mirzapur and Deoria.Her tenure as Mirzapur DM brought attention to her work on rural water supply. Her administration worked to provide piped drinking water to Lahuria Dah, a remote village that had faced difficulties in accessing water.She later served as Chief Executive Officer of the UP Rural Roads Development Agency and subsequently as District Magistrate of Deoria. Before leaving the IAS, she was serving as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department.
Mittal’s earlier reflections on education
Interestingly, months before announcing her political entry, Mittal had spoken publicly about what her own education had taught her and what it had not.In a post in May 2026, she reflected on her journey from IIT Delhi to IIM Bangalore and then to the IAS. She said her education had prepared her to clear difficult examinations and handle major responsibilities but had not taught her how to deal with loneliness and emotional challenges. Her comments prompted discussion about the role of life skills and emotional education in the Indian education system.That reflection offers another perspective on a career that has moved through some of the country’s most competitive academic and professional institutions.
From civil services to politics
Mittal’s transition from engineering and management education to international finance, the UPSC, the IAS, and now politics marks another turn in her public career.She has not announced a political party affiliation or, at this stage, detailed a specific constituency or electoral contest. Her stated plan is to begin her political journey in Uttar Pradesh and build it around direct engagement with citizens.For Mittal, the next chapter therefore moves away from administering government programmes from within the system to seeking a political role outside established party structures. Her political journey will now determine how she translates her experience in administration into the public platform she has announced.
