New Delhi: Following the resignation of 2013-batch IAS officer Divya Mittal, attention has also turned to her husband, Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, a former civil servant who left government service four years ago and has since returned to the financial markets.
Gagandeep Singh, popularly known as Gagan Dhillon, resigned from his position in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in May 2022. He had previously served in the Indian Trade Service (ITS) and held responsibilities related to foreign trade and export controls.
Today, according to his professional profile, Dhillon works as an algorithmic trader at Neuracap, marking another significant transition in a career that has taken him from global investment banking to the Indian government and back to quantitative finance.
Gagandeep Singh and Divya Mittal’s Journey From London to Civil Services
Gagandeep Singh and Divya Mittal had both established careers in the corporate sector before deciding to return to India.
Gagandeep worked with Citigroup in London, while Ms Mittal was associated with JPMorgan. Despite their professional success abroad, the couple decided to return to India and prepare for the Civil Services Examination.
They reportedly prepared in Delhi without formal coaching. Gagandeep cleared the Civil Services Examination in his first attempt in 2010, while Divya initially cleared the examination for the IPS and later secured the IAS.
Their decision to leave lucrative careers abroad and pursue public service became an important chapter in their professional journeys.
Who Is Gagandeep Singh Dhillon?
Gagandeep Singh Dhillon is a former civil servant, investment banking professional and algorithmic trader. His career has spanned international finance, India’s trade administration and quantitative trading.
His family roots are in Giddarbaha in Punjab. He completed his engineering and management education at two of India’s premier institutions before beginning his career in global finance.
He is also known for his academic and professional association with financial markets, derivatives trading, foreign exchange and data-driven quantitative analysis.
Education: IIT Delhi to IIM Bangalore
Dhillon has a strong academic background.
He completed his B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi, where he studied from 1998 to 2002. He subsequently pursued management studies at IIM Bangalore, completing his MBA in Financial Mathematics from 2003 to 2005.
He later expanded his academic exposure by completing a MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy from MIT during 2019–2020.
His academic combination of engineering, management, economics and data analysis has also complemented his later career in quantitative finance.
Started Career in Global Financial Markets
Before entering government service, Dhillon worked in the international financial sector.
After completing his management education, he worked in roles involving derivatives market-making, credit options trading and foreign exchange trading.
His corporate career included stints with major global financial institutions, including BNP Paribas in Singapore and Citigroup in London.
His experience in financial markets later became relevant when he returned to the private sector after leaving government service.
Cleared Civil Services Examination in First Attempt
Despite having an established career in global finance, Dhillon decided to pursue public service.
He returned to India and appeared for the Civil Services Examination in 2010, clearing it on his first attempt.
He subsequently joined the Indian Trade Service (ITS), a specialised civil service under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
His move into government service marked a shift from international financial markets to trade policy and administration.
Served in Foreign Trade Administration
During his government career, Dhillon served in the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and handled responsibilities connected with India’s foreign trade framework.
He served as an Assistant Director General of Foreign Trade in Delhi, working in areas involving import policies, export controls and international business regulations.
His professional profile also notes his association with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in the United States, where he was designated an Asian Export Control Fellow in 2016.
His work therefore combined public policy, international trade and strategic export-control issues.
Why Did Gagandeep Singh Leave Civil Services?
After spending more than a decade in government service, Dhillon decided to leave the civil services.
He resigned in May 2022, when he was serving as Joint Director General in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, according to the professional information available about his career.
His resignation marked a return to the financial sector, where he had begun his professional career before joining government.
Unlike a conventional career trajectory in government, Dhillon chose to move back into finance and quantitative trading after his civil service stint.
What Does Gagandeep Singh Do Now?
Following his resignation, Dhillon transitioned back into the financial markets.
He currently works as an Algorithmic Trader at Neuracap. His work involves developing and applying systematic approaches to trading, using data-driven models and market analysis.
His professional profile describes his work in algorithmic trading as involving fundamental and technical analysisand the development of automated and systematic trading models.
Thus, his career has come full circle—from investment banking and trading before civil services to government service and, subsequently, back to algorithmic trading.
Gagandeep Singh and Divya Mittal: A Shared Civil Services Journey
Gagandeep Singh and Divya Mittal married in 2007.
Before entering public service, both had worked in London. Their decision to return to India and prepare for the Civil Services Examination became a shared turning point in their lives.
Gagandeep cleared the examination on his first attempt and entered the Indian Trade Service in 2010.
Divya Mittal initially cleared the examination for the Indian Police Service (IPS) and later appeared again, securing the IAS in 2012 with an All India Rank of 68.
Gagandeep’s decision to pursue public service and his preparation for the examination also encouraged Divya to take the civil services route.
Divya Mittal’s Recent Resignation
The renewed attention on Gagandeep comes after Divya Mittal resigned from the IAS after around 13 years of service.
A 2013-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Mittal has held several important field assignments, including serving as District Magistrate of Mirzapur, Sant Kabir Nagar and Deoria.
In her farewell message, Mittal reflected on her years in public service and said it was time to pursue dreams she had held for herself and for the people she served.
Her resignation has consequently brought renewed interest in the career choices of the couple, both of whom left successful corporate careers abroad to pursue public service in India, and both of whom eventually chose to move away from government service.
From Global Finance to Government and Back
Gagandeep Singh’s career stands out for its unusual trajectory.
He began in global financial markets, moved to India’s civil services and foreign trade administration, and later returned to the private financial sector.
His journey has therefore covered three distinct professional worlds—international investment banking, public administration and algorithmic trading.
Today, while his wife Divya Mittal has recently stepped away from the IAS, Gagandeep Singh continues his career in financial markets as an algorithmic trader at Neuracap.
