UttarPradesh is witnessing a notable rise in women holding top district posts, with an increasing number of women IAS officers serving as District Magistrates and Collectors across the state. The trend marks a visible shift in the administrative landscape, as women now head several key and sensitive districts.
The list of women DMs underlines this change. They include Smt. Durga Shakti Nagpal (2010 batch) at Lakhimpur Kheri and Ms. Shruti (2011 batch) at Bulandshahr. Jasjit Kaur (2012) is the DM of Bijnor.
Officers from the 2013 batch figure prominently: IAS Divya Mittal Dm Deoria, IAS Priyanka Niranjan DM Gonda, and IAS Harshita Mathur is posted in DM Raebareli. The 2014 batch is represented by IAS Smt. Medha Roopam in Gautam Buddh Nagar and IAS Smt. Kritika Jyotsna in DM Basti.
From the 2015 batch, IAS Smt. Asmita Lal serves in Bagpat, IAS Smt. Nidhi Gupta Vats in Amroha, and IAS Smt. J. Reebha in Banda.
Among newer entrants, Ms. Gazal Bharadwaj (2016 batch) is the District Magistrate of Mahoba.
From border districts to important urban centres, women officers are increasingly entrusted with complex governance and law-and-order responsibilities. Their growing presence reflects both improved gender representation in the civil services and a growing institutional confidence in their leadership at the district leve
🛡️ IAS Durga Shakti Nagpal is a 2010-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre who has earned national recognition for her uncompromising stand against corruption and illegal activities. She rose to prominence in ⚖️ 2013 during her posting in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), where her crackdown on the illegal sand mining mafia made her a widely recognised face of administrative integrity.
As Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nagpal launched late-night raids against illegal sand mining along the Yamuna river. Her actions led to multiple FIRs, arrests, and the seizure of illegally mined sand, directly challenging entrenched and powerful interests. Shortly thereafter, she was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government, officially citing the demolition of a mosque wall. The move triggered widespread public outrage, with many viewing the suspension as retaliatory. Within nearly two months, amid sustained pressure from civil society and sections of the bureaucracy, the government revoked the suspension.
The episode cemented Nagpal’s reputation as a fearless officer and a symbol of ethical governance. She went on to be named “Woman of the Year” by The Economic Times* and has since emerged as a motivational speaker, often addressing aspiring civil servants on integrity and public service.
🎓 An engineering graduate in computer science, Nagpal secured All India Rank 20 in the 2009 Civil Services Examination. She initially joined the Indian Revenue Service before qualifying again to enter the IAS in the 2010 batch. Born on June 25, 1985, in Agra, she comes from a family with a background in public service.
Over the years, she has held a range of key administrative assignments. Apart from her tenure in Gautam Buddh Nagar, she has served as District Magistrate of Banda and later as District Magistrate and Collector of Lakhimpur Kheri, where she continues to oversee administration and development initiatives. Her career also includes central deputation, with postings as Officer on Special Duty to the Union Agriculture Minister and as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce.
Across postings and controversies, Durga Shakti Nagpal remains widely regarded within and outside the bureaucracy as an officer who challenged powerful lobbies at personal cost. Her career continues to be cited as a rare example of firmness, independence, and commitment to clean governance in public administration.
📌 Today, She is respected for firm decisions and people-first work. His career inspires young officers across the country.
🛡️ Shruti is a 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as District Magistrate and Collector of Bulandshahr. An engineer by training, she holds a http://B.Tech in Computer Science from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, and entered the civil services with an All 🎓 India Rank of 16 in her first attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
🏛️ Originally allotted to the Punjab cadre, she moved to the Uttar Pradesh cadre in 2017 following her marriage to Shailesh Kumar Pandey, a 2011-batch IPS officer. Since then, she has handled a range of key administrative responsibilities across the state.
⚖️ District Magistrate of Bulandshahr since January 2025, Shruti oversees district administration, law and order, and development programmes. Earlier, she served as District Magistrate and Collector of Balrampur and Fatehpur, gaining extensive experience in district-level governance.
🏙️ Her career also includes important urban and infrastructure-related assignments. She has served as Additional Chief Executive Officer of both the Noida Authority and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). In late 2024, she briefly held additional charge as Acting Chief Executive Officer of YEIDA, overseeing high-profile projects such as the Noida International Airport and the proposed Film City.
At the state headquarters, she was appointed Additional Mission Director of the National Health Mission in Lucknow in 2017, where she dealt with public health administration and programme implementation.
📲In August 2025, Shruti drew attention for her prompt handling of a major road accident in Bulandshahr, personally coordinating rescue and relief operations and visiting the injured. Later in 2025, she was briefly in the news over a communication-related issue involving missed calls from a senior political leader. The matter was subsequently resolved after her office acknowledged a lapse at the staff level.
📌 Known for her hands-on approach and administrative clarity, Shruti continues to be seen as a capable district officer with experience spanning health, infrastructure, and urban governance.
Ms Jasjit Kaur is a 2012-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre and is currently serving as District Magistrate and Collector of #Bijnor. She took charge of the district on January 16, 2025.
🏚️Born on October 14, 1984, in Amritsar, Punjab, Jasjit Kaur has an academic background that blends economics and technology. She holds a http://B.Sc. in Economics from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, along with a postgraduate qualification in computer applications and computer science from institutions including the University of Madras.🎓
She entered the civil services after clearing the 2011 Civil Services Examination with an All India Rank of 291 and formally joined the IAS on September 3, 2012. Following her initial training and early postings in districts such as Sitapur and Agra, she served as Joint Magistrate in Unnao in 2014.
Over the years, Jasjit Kaur has handled a range of district and state-level assignments. She has previously served as District Magistrate of Shamli and Sultanpur, building experience in district administration and law-and-order management. Her state-level roles include stints as Additional Mission Director of the National Health Mission in Lucknow, Special Secretary in the Planning Department, and Chief Development Officer in Bulandshahr. She has also served in the Meerut division in a senior administrative capacity.
In late 2025 and early 2026, her tenure attracted legal scrutiny in connection with long-pending administrative matters. These included court proceedings related to a land acquisition compensation case and a separate matter involving the cancellation of a caste certificate, in which judicial directions were issued to ensure her appearance before the court.
Despite these developments, Jasjit Kaur continues to be recognised for her administrative work. In January 2026, she was selected for the SIR Award on National Voters’ Day, in recognition of her contribution to electoral management and public service during her tenure as District Magistrate of Bijnor.
IAS Divya Mittal is a 2013-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as District Magistrate Deoria. She has built a reputation as a firm, people-focused and technology-driven administrator, with several high-impact interventions to her credit at the district level.🎓
📚An alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, Mittal represents a rare transition from global finance to public administration. Before entering the civil services, she worked as an exotic derivatives trader with JP Morgan in London, a career she left to pursue public service through the #UPSC.
🎓Her administrative work has drawn national attention. During her tenure as DM of #Mirzapur, she resolved a 75-year-old drinking water crisis in the remote village of Lahuria Dah by ensuring piped water supply. In #Deoria, she launched ‘Operation Kabza Mukti’, a community-led drive that led to the voluntary removal of hundreds of illegal encroachments on public land without the use of force.
🌍 Divya Mittal is also known for asserting administrative independence. In mid-2025, she made headlines after firmly resisting political pressure over transfers, underlining the importance of institutional process and protocol. Her open use of digital platforms to communicate governance issues and public service priorities has further strengthened her connect with citizens.
🎯Her career has spanned a wide range of assignments, including District Magistrate of Sant Kabir Nagar and Mirzapur, Chief Development Officer, Gonda, Vice Chairperson of the Bareilly Development Authority, Joint Managing Director of UPSIDA, and Assistant Secretary at NITI Aayog. She also held charge as CEO of the Uttar Pradesh Rural Roads Development Agency. Widely regarded for integrity and administrative resolve, Divya Mittal continues to be cited as a leading example of effective grassroots governance.
IAS Smt. Priyanka Niranjan is a 2013-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, widely regarded for her firm administrative style and sustained focus on rural development, water conservation and law enforcement. Over the years, she has emerged as one of the state’s most visible district magistrates, known for translating policy into measurable outcomes on the ground.
📚 As of January 2026, Niranjan is serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Gonda, a charge she assumed on July 28, 2025. This is her fourth consecutive posting as a District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh, following tenures in Jalaun, Basti and Mirzapur, underscoring the government’s continued reliance on her district-level administrative experience.
🎓Her work in environmental restoration and water management has drawn national attention. In Jalaun, she led the community-driven revival of the Noon River, an initiative that was publicly praised by 🎖️Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Mann Ki Baat. As DM of Mirzapur, her efforts on the Karnavati River contributed to the district winning the National Water Award, while in Basti, she initiated the restoration of the 130-kilometre-long Manorama River.
🌍 Niranjan has also been noted for strengthening governance systems. In Mirzapur, she pushed the adoption of a paperless e-office system and improved grievance redressal mechanisms. In Basti, she took a tough line against land mafias, invoking the Gangster Act to address entrenched illegalities and restore administrative control.
💅Born in Jalaun, she secured an All India Rank of 20 in the 2012 Civil Services Examination. She completed her schooling locally and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Allahabad University, where she also worked as a research scholar. Known for her hands-on approach and field inspections, Priyanka Niranjan continues to be cited as an officer combining administrative rigour with grassroots engagement.
📌 Today, She is respected for firm decisions and people-first work. His career inspires young officers across the country.
Ms. Harshita Mathur is a 2013-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Rae Bareli, a post she has held since September 2023. She continues in the role as of January 2026, overseeing administration in one of the state’s most politically significant districts.
Born on September 18, 1988, and originally from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Mathur is a law graduate, having completed her B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal. Her academic grounding in law has shaped a career marked by structured administration and close attention to procedural detail.
Over the years, she has held a range of key field and development assignments across Uttar Pradesh. Early in her career, she served as Joint Magistrate in Moradabad and Meerut, followed by stints as Chief Development Officer in Basti, Siddharthnagar and Gorakhpur. She has also served as CEO of the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) and as Vice Chairman of the Bulandshahr–Khurja Development Authority.
Before being posted to Rae Bareli, Mathur served as the District Magistrate of Kasganj, gaining experience in district-level governance and law and order. In May 2024, she was in the national spotlight as the Returning Officer for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination.
Ms. Mathur is married to Anuj Singh, also a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Within administrative circles, she is regarded as a steady and methodical officer, combining field experience with a strong grounding in development administration.
🗂️ Smt. Medha Roopam is a 2014 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. She is District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida, since July 2025.
🏙️ She became the first woman IAS officer to lead Noida. The district is a major urban and industrial center of Uttar Pradesh.
📍 Before Noida, she served as District Magistrate of Kasganj and Hapur. She handled both city issues and rural administration.
🏗️ She also worked as Additional CEO of Greater Noida Authority. She supported urban sanitation improvements, cleanliness work, and public services.
🛣️ In Noida, she focuses on public complaints and big projects. This includes the Noida International Airport at Jewar.
🎓 She studied Economics at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. She secured All India Rank 10 in the 2014 UPSC exam.
🏅 She is also a sports shooter at national level. She won three gold medals in the Kerala State Shooting Championship.
👨👩👧 She comes from a family of public service officers. Her father and husband are both senior IAS officers.
Smt. Kritika Jyotsna is a 2014-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Basti. She assumed charge in late October 2025, taking over from Ravish Kumar Gupta.
🏡Originally allotted the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Kritika Jyotsna later moved to Uttar Pradesh following her marriage to fellow IAS officer Rahul Pandey. Over the years, she has built a diverse administrative profile spanning district administration, state departments and central deputation.
🏣Before her posting in Basti, she served as District Magistrate of Sultanpur from September 2023 to January 2025. At the state level, she has held key responsibilities as Special Secretary in the State Tax Department and earlier in Food and Civil Supplies, handling policy and regulatory assignments.
🌍 Her career also includes a significant inter-cadre deputation to Jammu and Kashmir (2021–2023), where she worked as Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal and later Udhampur, gaining experience in sensitive administrative and developmental environments.
🎓An academically strong officer, Kritika Jyotsna secured All India Rank 30 in the 2013 Civil Services Examination on her fourth attempt. She is an alumna of Miranda House, Delhi University, with both graduation and a master’s degree in Mathematics.
🏙️ She comes from a family deeply rooted in public service. Her father, S.B.L. Mishra, is a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Telangana, while her mother serves in the Uttar Pradesh civil services. Her brother, Kartikeya Mishra, is a 2009-batch IAS officer.
Smt. Asmita Lal is a 2015-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of #Baghpat. She assumed charge on January 18, 2025, and continues in the post as of January 2026.
An alumnus of the University of Mumbai, where she studied Psychology, Asmita Lal later earned a postgraduate degree in Public Policy from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She entered the civil services after securing All India Rank 454 in her third attempt at the Civil Services Examination, having earlier qualified for the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS).
Her administrative career spans a range of district and state-level assignments. Before her posting in Baghpat, she served as Chief Development Officer of Ghaziabad, Additional (ACEO )of the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), and Special Secretary in the APC Branch of the state government. Her early field postings included stints as Assistant Magistrate in Aligarh and Joint Magistrate in Moradabad.
Asmita Lal has drawn attention for initiatives that blend administration with social sensitivity. She became the first District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh to publicly pledge posthumous eye donation, aiming to promote awareness on organ donation.
Her tenure has also been marked by a strong focus on animal welfare. In Baghpat, she facilitated the establishment of the state’s first canine crematorium and promoted low-cost shelters for stray animals using recycled materials such as plastic drums and discarded tyres.
In the area of sustainable and inclusive governance, she launched initiatives such as “Nira”, which encourages the use of affordable, reusable cotton sanitary pads to promote menstrual hygiene, alongside community-oriented efforts to support underprivileged families.
She comes from a family with a background in public service. Her father, Dr. Ravindra Kumar, served in the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS), while her husband, Alok Yadav, is also an IAS officer and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Jhansi Development Authority.
Smt. Nidhi Gupta Vats is a 2015-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Amroha. She assumed charge of the district on September 14, 2024,
🎓A top-ranked civil servant, she secured an All India Rank 3 in the 2014 Civil Services Examination. Originally allotted the Haryana cadre, she was transferred to Uttar Pradesh in 2016 following her marriage to Anurag Vats, a 2013-batch IPS officer.
📚 Academically, Nidhi Gupta Vats completed her schooling in Delhi and went on to earn a http://B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur.
🏙️ Her career in Uttar Pradesh spans a range of field and policy-level assignments. She began as Assistant Collector in Agra, later serving as Joint Magistrate in Lucknow and Chief Development Officer of Hardoi. She also held the post of Special Secretary in the Excise Department of the state government.
🏣 Between July 2022 and September 2024, she served as Municipal Commissioner of Bareilly Nagar Nigam, where her tenure drew statewide and national attention. Under her leadership, 64 Smart City projects were completed in a record 25 months, earning national recognition in Indore and Delhi.
Her focus on urban sanitation and civic discipline significantly improved Bareilly’s standing in the Swachh Survekshan, with the city’s ranking rising from 137 to 80. Her hands-on approach, including personal inspections of drains and public spaces, was widely noted.
In Amroha, she has continued to project a firm administrative style, marked by swift enforcement of rules and procedural discipline, including action against unauthorised presence in SDM courts to uphold institutional integrity.
Smt. J. Reebha, a 2015-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Banda, having assumed charge in January 2025.
📚 Known within administrative circles for her people-centric approach and administrative clarity, she has steadily built a reputation for combining accessibility with firm governance.
🏡 Originally from Tamil Nadu and born on May 1, 1992, Reebha is an engineering graduate from Jeppiaar Engineering College. Over the years, she has held a range of important field and policy assignments in Uttar Pradesh. Her earlier roles include Director in Lucknow,
🎓 Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Madarsa Shiksha Parishad, Joint Magistrate in Prayagraj and Mainpuri, and Assistant Collector in Varanasi. She has also worked in departments dealing with minority welfare and education, giving her exposure to both grassroots administration and institutional policymaking.
🏡Since taking over in Banda on January 18, 2025—succeeding Nagendra Pratap Singh she has been noted for her focus on development-oriented administration, clear decision-making, and an open-door approach to public grievances. Within the service, she is regarded as an officer who balances efficiency with empathy, particularly in rural and socially sensitive sectors.
👨👩👦👦 Smt. Reebha is also part of a well-known IAS couple, married to Dr. Rajaganapathy R., a fellow 2015-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
IAS Ms. Gazal Bharadwaj is a 2016-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Mahoba, a charge she assumed in April 2025. She entered the civil services after securing an impressive 🎓All India Rank 40 in the 2015 Civil Services Examination.
An engineer by training, Bharadwaj holds a http://B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration and Management from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Born on 🏡September 11, 1989, and hailing from Roorkee in Uttarakhand, she brings a blend of technical expertise and policy understanding to district administration.
Over the years, she has handled a wide range of assignments across Uttar Pradesh. Prior to her posting in Mahoba, she served as Chief Development Officer in Rampur and Gonda, Municipal Commissioner of Saharanpur, Joint Magistrate in Lalitpur, and Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development. She has also worked as Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, gaining exposure to labour welfare and urban governance.
Known for her emphasis on grassroots administration and service delivery, Bharadwaj has been actively involved in strengthening health, education and rural development programmes. In Mahoba, she has overseen major administrative and civic events, reflecting her hands-on approach to district governance.
Beyond official responsibilities, she is widely regarded as a multi-faceted civil servant. A published poet, keen photographer and avid student of history also her optional subject in the UPSC examination Bharadwaj has authored a preparatory book for civil services aspirants titled “UPSC: The Making of Modern India – Amidst the Making of the Modern World”. http://amzn.to/3L4VUBK
Within administrative circles, she is seen as a thoughtful and people-oriented officer, combining academic depth with on-ground administrative experience.
