Ms. Padma always harboured a desire to be part of the highly respected IAS community.
Padma Jaiswal
A good civil servant is loved by people, cherished by authorities and celebrated by society. In India, IAS officers hold this kind of repute for their unwavering commitment towards the country and its citizens. One such IAS officer with a highly decorated career is Padma Jaiswal.
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With a dream to serve the nation and a natural penchant for connecting and communicating with masses, Ms. Padma always harboured a desire to be part of the highly respected IAS community. She thus built a rich and diverse academic profile before stepping into the shoes of an aspirant who looked to crack one of the toughest competitive exams in the world.
A commerce and management graduate, Ms. Padma secured a Masters degree in Business Administration from Panjab University, while also completing the University Grants Commission Research Fellow exam and holding a Company Secretary degree. These educational breakthroughs paved the way for her to understand various facets of planning, administration, execution and delegation.
Talking about the inception of her IAS mission, Ms. Padma said, “In complete honesty, I do admit that becoming an IAS officer is a very difficult process, and it tests the best of people. But, it is this exact process that prepares us for even bigger challenges on duty, reminding us that patience, belief and perseverance can make us do wonders”.
Difficult is an understatement when it comes to the life of an IAS aspirant. Every year, a million candidates apply to appear in the incredibly demanding three stage public services exam. By the end, only 1 percent of those make it to the second round.
While the road to her goals may not have been easy, she never got fazed by hurdles, no matter how tough they were. It thus came as no surprise that Ms. Padma successfully became an IAS officer, a proud cadre of the AGMUT batch of 2003.
Over the years, her tenure in various administrative positions has brought about significant achievements and cemented her reputation as a leader who understands with nuance and acts decisively. Whether maintaining law and order, managing revenue collection and presiding over revenue courts, or driving various development initiatives, Ms. Padma embodies the spirit of a civil servant devoted to the people.
Sharing her thoughts on the experience, Ms. Padma added, “Once you have been given the responsibility of civil service, there is a certain sense of grit and vigour that becomes a permanent part of you. Each day, working with the government as well as citizens fuels me to think bigger and do better for the nation. That’s the biggest gift you receive as an IAS officer- getting inspired by different people every new day”.
Currently serving as a Secretary to Government to the State & Union Territories, Ms. Padma is fulfilling her dream to tangibly contribute in building a brighter and better India. She is not only responsible for implementing mainline government schemes and programmes, but also allocating tasks for special projects apart from other social responsibilities.
A marathon runner who regularly practises yoga, Ms. Padma is an ardent reader who can often be spotted browsing literary titles that revolve around social and psychological subjects. Pottery and gardening are two hobbies she also has cultivated on the job.
From a determined aspirant to a transformative leader, Ms. Padma Jaiswal's vision and dedication is a testament to the essence of Indian civil services. Bridging the gap between policy and people, it is officers like her who make people believe that India is a great country, with the potential to be the greatest nation.