Jalna: IAS officer Ashima Mittal (IAS:2018:MH) has emerged at the centre of the Maharashtra government’s efforts to engage with Manoj Jarange Patil, whose hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district has entered its fifth day amid the continuing demand for Maratha reservation.
Mittal, who is currently serving as the District Collector of Jalna, visited the protest site as a representative of the state government and held discussions with Jarange Patil and other protesters.
During her interaction with the Maratha reservation activist, the conversation reportedly became tense at one point when Jarange Patil objected to what he perceived as the Collector presenting only the government‘s position.
Despite the sharp exchange, Mittal remained composed and continued the discussion. She also appealed to Jarange Patil to take care of his health and withdraw his hunger strike.
Her involvement in the negotiations has drawn attention to the IAS officer herself, particularly because she has been tasked with handling communication with the protesters in a district where the prolonged agitation has significant administrative and law-and-order implications.
Collector Appeals to Jarange Patil to End Hunger Strike
On Tuesday night, Jalna District Collector Ashima Mittal met Jarange Patil at the protest site and urged him to reconsider his decision to continue the hunger strike.
During the meeting, she read out a list of important decisions taken by the Maharashtra government regarding the Maratha reservation issue and attempted to explain the government’s position to the protesters.
The discussion, however, became heated when Jarange Patil objected to the Collector’s approach and reportedly told her that if she only wanted to present the government’s side, she should leave the protest site.
Mittal did not leave and instead continued the engagement.
Her role is significant because the Jalna district administration is responsible for maintaining law and order around the protest while also facilitating communication between the state government and those participating in the agitation.
Jarange Patil’s 11th Hunger Strike
The latest protest is part of Manoj Jarange Patil’s long-running campaign for Maratha reservation and is reportedly his 11th hunger strike on the issue.
With the fast continuing, Jarange Patil’s health has become an important concern for the administration.
Against this backdrop, Mittal’s visit to the protest site was more than a routine administrative interaction. As Jalna Collector and a representative of the state government, she was required to communicate the government’s position while simultaneously attempting to persuade the protest leader to call off his fast.
The episode has brought greater public attention to the officer who is currently serving as the administrative face of the state government at the protest site.
Who Is IAS Ashima Mittal?
Ashima Mittal (IAS:2018:MH) is a 2018-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre.
Born on June 30, 1992, she is originally from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and comes from an engineering background.
Mittal completed her B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Bombay, graduating in 2014. During her time at the premier institute, she earned the prestigious Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal for her overall academic and co-curricular achievements.
She later pursued an M.A. in Anthropology from IGNOU, Delhi, while preparing for the Civil Services Examination.
Before entering the civil services, she is reported to have briefly worked in the private sector. She subsequently left her corporate job to prepare for the UPSC examination.
From IIT Bombay to UPSC
Mittal’s journey to the IAS was not an overnight success.
She initially appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination but did not clear the preliminary stage in her first attempt.
In her second attempt, she cleared the examination with an All India Rank of 328.
She continued her preparation and appeared for the examination for a third time. Her persistence paid off when she secured an impressive All India Rank 12 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
She opted for Anthropology as her optional subject, which also aligned with her subsequent postgraduate studies.
Her journey from IIT Bombay, through an unsuccessful first attempt and a rank of 328 in her second attempt, to securing AIR 12 in her third attempt has become one of the notable aspects of her civil services career.
Early Academic Achievements
Mittal’s academic record predates her time at IIT Bombay.
She was reportedly a recipient of prestigious scholarships and academic programmes including the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY).
At IIT Bombay, her academic and all-round performance earned her the Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, adding to an already strong academic profile.
Her transition from civil engineering to anthropology and eventually to public administration reflects a shift from a technical academic background to a career focused on governance and social development.
Early Administrative Career in Maharashtra
After joining the IAS as part of the 2018 batch and being allocated the Maharashtra cadre, Mittal began her administrative career through field-level assignments.
She served as Assistant Collector and Project Officer in Dahanu, gaining experience in district administration and implementation of government programmes at the grassroots level.
She subsequently moved to Nashik, where she took on a major role as Chief Executive Officer of the Nashik Zilla Parishad.
Her tenure in Nashik brought her considerable attention for initiatives in the education sector.
‘Super 50’ and Education Initiatives in Nashik
One of the initiatives associated with Mittal’s tenure as CEO, Nashik Zilla Parishad was ‘Super 50’, an education-focused programme designed to provide selected students with focused preparation and better opportunities.
Her tenure was also associated with efforts to introduce digital learning tools and innovative educational initiatives, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The initiatives helped build her reputation as an administrator with an emphasis on education, technology and grassroots interventions.
She served as CEO of the Nashik Zilla Parishad for nearly three years before moving on to her next major assignment.
Ashima Mittal Takes Charge as Jalna Collector
Mittal subsequently moved to Jalna and took charge as the District Collector of Jalna on July 30, 2025.
Her appointment placed her in charge of the district administration and brought responsibilities ranging from development programmes and revenue administration to law-and-order coordination and management of major local developments.
More than a year into the posting, her role has now assumed greater visibility because of the ongoing Maratha reservation agitation at Antarwali Sarati.
The district administration has been required to balance the government’s engagement with protesters with the need to maintain public order and monitor the situation surrounding Jarange Patil’s prolonged hunger strike.
Why Ashima Mittal’s Role Matters in the Current Protest
As the Jalna District Collector, Mittal is the senior district-level administrative officer dealing with the situation on the ground.
Her engagement with Jarange Patil reflects the role district administrations often play in facilitating communication between protesters and the state government during major public movements.
In the present situation, she has been communicating decisions taken by the Maharashtra government on the Maratha reservation issue while also appealing to Jarange Patil to end his fast.
The fact that the interaction continued even after a tense exchange has further highlighted her role in the ongoing negotiations.
With the hunger strike continuing, the Jalna administration remains responsible for maintaining law and order and coordinating the government’s response at the local level.
From Education Reforms to a Sensitive Administrative Challenge
Ashima Mittal’s career so far has covered a broad spectrum of public administration.
From her early field posting in Dahanu to her work with the Nashik Zilla Parishad, she has handled grassroots development and education-focused initiatives. Her subsequent posting as Jalna Collector has brought her into the middle of a highly sensitive socio-political issue.
The ongoing engagement with Jarange Patil represents a very different administrative challenge from her earlier education and development work.
Her IIT Bombay background, strong UPSC performance and experience in district administration have all contributed to the profile of an officer now handling one of the most closely watched developments in Maharashtra.
Ashima Mittal: Career at a Glance
- Name: Ashima Mittal
- Service: Indian Administrative Service
- Batch: 2018
- Cadre: Maharashtra
- Date of Birth: June 30, 1992
- Home State: Rajasthan
- UPSC Rank: AIR 12
- Education: B.Tech in Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay; M.A. in Anthropology
- Current Posting: District Collector, Jalna
- Took Charge as Jalna Collector: July 30, 2025
- Previous Major Posting: CEO, Nashik Zilla Parishad
- Early Posting: Assistant Collector and Project Officer, Dahanu
- Notable Initiative: ‘Super 50’ education programme
- Current Assignment: Engaging with Manoj Jarange Patil amid his hunger strike over the Maratha reservation demand
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