https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Civil Servants Must Be Sensitive and Responsive Towards Common People: Dr. S. Siddharth, IAS

S Siddharth
Indian Masterminds Stories

Civil Service is not just about serving the nation and helping in its administration. It is also the duty of every civil servant to be responsive and sensitive towards the common people. That’s what the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar, Dr. S Siddharth, swears by and strives for. The 1991-batch officer, who is a doctorate in Information Technology, prefers to stay always humble and grounded to his roots. 

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, he shared some of his experiences and learnings from his early days in service. 

LOVE FOR COUNTRY 

Dr. Siddharth did his graduation from IIT Delhi in Computer Science. Recollecting those days he said that only 31 students in his batch took the CS exam and, except for 2-3, all had plans to settle abroad. “We 2-3 guys were filled with pride and love for our country. We had decided that we will stay and contribute to our country because the government has invested so much on our education.”

He the entered IIM Ahmedabad with the thought that wherever he works, he will enter from a managerial position. “I was clear about my aim. I wanted to get into a position from where I can contribute the most.” 

Dr. Siddharth like to travel incognito in public

The management course went on. During that time, most of the syllabus included business economics and marketing of consumer products. That was something which he had no desire to work for. “It was before the liberalisation happened. Government had bigger roles in policy making for business and production. So I decided to go for administrative service to be part of that. I only wanted to attempt it since the exam was too tough and success was not guaranteed.” He gave the attempt and made his way into IAS. 

LEARNED ON THE JOB

After the probation course at LBSNAA, Dr. Siddharth was sent to Giridih for training as an Assistant Collector. Since Jharkhand adjoins Bihar, he took a bus from Ranchi to reach there. “I chose to travel in a bus to observe and know the local people. By the time I reached the Circuit House in Giridih, I had met a lot of them and gained a lot of love and respect. That journey made me realise that people are not charmed by the IAS post, but they respect it because they hope that the person will do something good for them. The traffic can’t be one way. They give so much love and respect to you, the least you can do is to be there for them.” 

Dr. Siddharth got his first posting as a trainee in Pirtand. During that time, the area was a centre for the Laalkhand movement and there were arm struggles happening. Police were attacked and arms were looted. It was not a safe environment at all. However, without caring for his safety, Dr. Siddharth kept on travelling and meeting people. “Four of my bodyguards left saying that I go to dangerous places. Still, I continued to travel in jeep. I was determined to know the real problems of the people and get them resolved. I used to spend nights in Panchayat offices. Many a time, the armed groups would walk past by me knowing that I was just a trainee.”

Dr. Siddharth efforts brought results. He tried to establish the presence of government and administration at a time when the people there were on the verge of revolting. He also roped in many of them in government projects and works. 

GAP SHOULD BE BRIDGED 

He still considers those days as his best learning experiences. “When there is dissatisfaction among people and society, they start feeling betrayed by the government and policymakers. This creates a gap. This gives a chance to anti-social elements to grow and thrive. So, the government and administration should make sure there is no such gap. They should be sensitive and responsive towards people. All they need to do is talk to them and try to understand their problems and solve them. I learned this early on and still practice it.” To check the ground reality, he never misses a chance to roam around in public places in incognito mode. Often he could be spotted on a rickshaw, buying vegetables, enjoying street food or walking around the common waiting areas of airports or railway stations.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Faith vs Discipline: Delhi HC Backs Army in Termination of Officer, Upholds Dismissal For Refusing Religious Parade Participation
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
Senior IRS Officer Caught in Bribery Case: ₹25 Lakh Seized at Mohali Residence, ₹45 Lakh Demanded – Know the Full Story
PNB Housing Finanace
PNB Housing Finance Elevates Bhavya Taneja as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Know More About Him
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command - Know More About Him
Rajgir Sports
Bihar’s Mega Sports Push: Playgrounds, Stadiums & Talent Hunt Transform State; Over 50 Lakh Students Join
Indian Oil IOCL
Indian Oil (IOCL) Finalizes LCOH for India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant at Panipat Refinery - Details Inside
RECPDCL Handover WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission Limited SPV to Adani Energy
RECPDCL Hands Over WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission SPV to Adani Energy Solutions - All Details Inside
Liquor Scam
Suspended IAS Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey, Former Excise Commissioner Gajendra Singh Sent to Judicial Custody in Jharkhand Liquor Scam - All Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Faith vs Discipline: Delhi HC Backs Army in Termination of Officer, Upholds Dismissal For Refusing Religious Parade Participation
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
Senior IRS Officer Caught in Bribery Case: ₹25 Lakh Seized at Mohali Residence, ₹45 Lakh Demanded – Know the Full Story
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT