https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

“I changed my way of dressing to appear more serious in this male-dominated field”, says Retd. IRS Irina Garg

Ms. Irina Garg’s journey from a reluctant entrant to a trailblazing IRS officer, balancing family and a challenging career in a male-dominated field, exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and the power of supportive relationships.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ms. Irina Garg’s journey into the Indian Civil Services is both inspiring and unconventional. Unlike many who dream of serving the nation through civil services from a young age, Ms. Garg’s decision came much later, influenced significantly by her husband.

She had never planned to become a civil servant until after her marriage. It was her husband, an IAS officer, who saw her potential and encouraged her to consider a career in civil services. Motivated by his advice and support, she began preparing for the exams. Despite the challenges of balancing her family life, including managing her responsibilities as a wife and mother, she gave the exams a single attempt and successfully secured a position as an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.

The initial days in the service were tough for Ms. Garg. She found herself juggling multiple roles simultaneously—those of a mother, wife, and officer. These challenges, however, did not deter her. Instead, they strengthened her resolve. She embraced every difficulty that came her way without complaint or regret. Her entry into the IRS marked the beginning of a career where she would face numerous challenges, yet continue to persevere with grace and determination.

As she settled into her role, Ms. Garg made conscious efforts to adapt to the demands of her position. She recognized the need to project a serious demeanor, which even influenced her style of dressing. She also acknowledged that, as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated field, she had to be more cautious and vigilant than her male counterparts. These adaptations, however, did not come at the cost of her integrity or her ability to perform her duties with excellence.

Throughout her career, Ms. Garg remained deeply committed to the IRS, never considering a shift to any other service. She had no preconceived notions about the service when she joined, and she accepted every assignment and challenge with an open mind. This attitude of acceptance and resilience allowed her to grow, both personally and professionally. She evolved into a leader who believed in providing bureaucrats with the necessary freedom to follow the spirit of the law, rather than being bogged down by its letter.

Her journey, marked by hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to her duties, culminated in her retirement as the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax in Jaipur. Even in retirement, Ms. Garg’s story stands as a testament to the power of determination and the impact of supportive relationships in achieving one’s goals.

In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Irina Garg shared insights from her experiences in the field, highlighting the challenges she faced during raids and investigations. She also reflected on how she navigated her career at a time when only a few women were part of the bureaucracy, making her journey even more remarkable.

Watch here :


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ONGC_resized
ONGC Launches 2025 Apprenticeship Program with 2,623 Vacancies — Empowering India’s Youth for Energy Sector Careers
PNB-resized
PNB Unlocks Rs 1,007 Crore by Selling 10% Stake in Canara HSBC Life Ahead of IPO — Strategic Move to Strengthen Core Operations
ONGC_resized
India’s State-Run Oil Giants Invest Rs 46,600 Crore in Five Months — ONGC and IOC Lead Push for Energy Infrastructure Growth
CIL & IIT Madras Tie Up
Coal India and IIT Madras Join Forces to Launch ‘Centre for Sustainable Energy’ — A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan: 34 IPS Senior Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle; New DG Post Created in SOG-ATS, Sachin Mittal Made New Police Commissioner of Jaipur
IRTS logo
Senior IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur Prematurely Repatriated from ONGC to Parent Cadre for Promotion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-21 at 16.46
How IPS Alok Raj Narayan is Changing Policing in Uttar Pradesh
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT