Who Is Divya Mittal? She Left A London Job For The IAS, Now Resigns After 13 Years Of Service

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IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her resignation from the Indian Administrative Service after 13 years, bringing an end to a career that took her from IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore to London's financial sector and eventually to some of Uttar Pradesh's most prominent administrative postings. The 2013-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre officer shared an emotional note about her decision, reflecting on her years in public service and the people whose lives she encountered along the way.

Divya Mittal Resigns From IAS After 13 Years

Divya Mittal announced her voluntary resignation from the IAS on August 30, 2026, describing her 13 years in the service as an "unforgettable" journey. At the time, she was serving as Special Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Department.

Photo Credit: Instagram@divyamittal_ias/AI-generated

In her resignation message, Mittal looked back at the experiences that shaped her understanding of public service. She recalled working with families who received land rights, persons with disabilities who gained opportunities to live with dignity and farmers who finally received water for their fields.

Rather than citing a particular political or administrative dispute, Mittal's statement focused on her personal reflections about service, purpose and the people she had encountered during her career.

She also emphasised that leaving her government position did not mean giving up on the larger dream she had for India.

Why Did Divya Mittal Resign?

Mittal has not publicly stated that she resigned because of any political dispute, administrative controversy or pressure from the government.

Her resignation note presents the decision as a personal one after reflecting on her journey. She wrote about how the dreams she once had for herself had been fulfilled and how her focus had gradually shifted towards the dreams she had for the people she served.

From IIT Delhi And IIM Bangalore To London

Before joining the civil services, Divya Mittal had already established an impressive academic and professional record.

She studied at IIT Delhi and later completed her management education at IIM Bangalore. After her studies, she moved to London and worked in the financial sector, including a stint with JPMorgan.

Despite having a successful career abroad, Mittal eventually returned to India. Her own account of the journey describes a sense that something was missing while she was living away from the country, prompting her to consider a different path.

That decision eventually led her to the UPSC examination and the IAS.

Divya Mittal's UPSC Journey

Mittal's journey to the IAS was not an overnight success. She cleared the Civil Services Examination multiple times before securing the rank that led to her selection for the IAS.

She secured All India Rank 68 in the 2012 Civil Services Examination, after which she joined the 2013-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Her career subsequently included several important administrative assignments, including postings as District Magistrate of Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Deoria.

Her Mirzapur Water Project

One of the most notable chapters of Mittal's career was her work in Lahuria Dah village in Mirzapur, which had faced severe water shortages.

During her tenure as Mirzapur DM, efforts were made to bring piped drinking water to the village. The project became closely associated with Mittal after water finally reached the area following years of scarcity.

Her tenure in Mirzapur also attracted controversy after a 'jal pujan' ceremony was held to mark the arrival of water. Questions were subsequently raised about administrative protocol, and Mittal was transferred from the district.

However, this episode should not be described as the reason for her 2026 resignation. Her current resignation statement does not make that connection.

From Deoria DM To The Revenue Department

Mittal later became District Magistrate of Deoria, a position she held before being moved out of the posting in May 2026.

She subsequently served as Special Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Department. This was her position when she announced her resignation from the IAS on August 30.

Thus, reports describing her as the current Deoria DM would be outdated. Her latest government position was in the Revenue Department.

Who Is Divya Mittal's Husband?

Divya Mittal's husband is Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, who also had a career in the Indian Administrative Service.

Gagandeep Singh was a 2011-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer and, like Divya, is associated with IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore.

He has since left the civil services and is now described in recent reporting as an ex-bureaucrat-turned-entrepreneur.

Reports have also highlighted his role in encouraging Divya to pursue the civil services after she had been working in London.

Divya Mittal And Gagandeep Singh's Work Together

After leaving the bureaucracy, Gagandeep moved into entrepreneurship. He and Divya have also worked together on Kiki English, an educational app designed to help children improve their spoken English, particularly those from rural backgrounds.

According to a Times of India report, Divya contributed to the educational and content side of the initiative, while Gagandeep handled its technical and coding aspects.

The couple's professional journeys therefore share an unusual similarity: both studied at leading Indian institutions, entered the civil services and eventually moved beyond government service.

What Is Next For Divya Mittal?

Divya Mittal has not announced a specific next career move following her resignation.

Her statement, however, indicates that she does not consider her larger purpose of contributing to India to have ended with her government position. After 13 years in the IAS, her resignation marks a significant transition for an officer whose career has combined an elite academic background, an international finance career and grassroots administrative work. For now, the next chapter of Divya Mittal's professional journey remains open.