Sumantra Bibhuti Barooah

“If my own children ask me in the future, ‘Should we become IAS?’ I will directly advise them, ‘Don’t become IAS’.” Sounds surprising coming from a senior IAS officer, doesn’t it? But Maharashtra’s IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe reportedly has a deeply personal reason behind this advice. In around 21 years of service, he has reportedly faced 25 transfers. Every move meant a new posting, a new city and another round of adjustments for his family. And the biggest cost was often borne by those waiting for him at home. His son had to change schools six times before reaching Class 5. Each transfer meant leaving behind familiar teachers, classmates and friendships, only to start again somewhere new. His wife, too, had to repeatedly reorganise her life around sudden transfers. Mundhe accepted these challenges as part of his professional journey. But he does not want his children to experience the same instability. Instead, he would prefer them to explore entrepreneurship or public leadership — careers that could allow them to contribute to society with greater independence. He has also encouraged Gen Z to look beyond conventional career paths, believing that young people have the knowledge, energy and ability to explore different opportunities. A 2005-batch IAS officer who secured AIR 20 in UPSC CSE 2004, Mundhe continues to serve the administration. In May 2026, he took charge as Maharashtra’s FDA Commissioner, where he has acted against food safety violations and illegal activities. His approach to governance remains firm: “Rules and regulations exist. We need an executive instrument to take them to stakeholders and implement them.” Yet his reported advice to his own children reveals another side of public service — the sacrifices that rarely appear in official records. 💭 For an officer, a transfer may be another government order. For a child, it can mean another school, another goodbye and another fresh start. #TukaramMundhe #IAS #IASOfficer #IndianBureaucracy #UPSC #CivilServices #PublicService #IndianMasterminds