Begusarai, Bihar: IAS officer Richie Pandey, currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Begusarai, drew attention during celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on September 23.
During a visit to Dinkar’s residence, Pandey paid tribute to the poet by garlanding his portrait. He later met Dinkar’s daughter-in-law and touched her feet to seek her blessings. Images of the interaction were shared on social media, where his gesture was praised by several users.
Who Is IAS Richie Pandey?
Richie Pandey is a 2016-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre. He was born on February 14, 1988.
He has a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), University of Delhi, and an MBA. Before joining the civil services, he worked in the private sector, including at Axis Bank and Smart Cube, a business process management company.
Pandey entered the IAS after clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2016.
From SDM to District Magistrate
After joining the administrative service, Pandey served in several positions in Bihar. He served as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) from October 25, 2018, to September 28, 2019. He later served as an Assistant Secretary in Patna.
In 2022, Pandey was appointed District Magistrate of Jehanabad. He subsequently became the Collector of Sitamarhi on March 6, 2024. He took charge as Begusarai District Magistrate on August 17, 2026.
Work in Digital Governance
During his tenure as Sitamarhi DM, Pandey launched the District Public Grievance Redressal System, a digital platform intended to facilitate the submission and resolution of public complaints.
His administrative work has also included the use of digital platforms for public-service delivery and grievance management.
While serving in Jehanabad, Pandey received the Bhoomi Samman Award from President Droupadi Murmu for work related to the digitisation of land records.
A Singer and Cricket Enthusiast
Apart from his administrative career, Pandey has also participated in cultural and sporting activities. He is known to sing and has performed on occasions connected with public events.
In January 2026, during a cricket match between teams representing the district administration and Bank of Baroda in Sitamarhi, Pandey scored 30 runs from 33 balls and took two wickets. He was named Player of the Match.
Respectful Gesture at Dinkar’s Residence
The September 23 event brought Pandey into public attention after he visited the residence associated with Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in Simaria, Begusarai.
After paying tribute to Dinkar, Pandey met the poet’s daughter-in-law and touched her feet before receiving her blessings. The moment was captured on camera and subsequently circulated on social media.
The interaction came during celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Dinkar, one of Hindi literature’s prominent poets, whose association with Simaria remains an important part of Begusarai’s cultural identity.
Richie Pandey’s Current Posting
Pandey is currently serving as the District Magistrate and Collector of Begusarai, where he took charge in August 2026.
His career has included postings as an SDM, Assistant Secretary and District Magistrate in different districts of Bihar, along with recognition for his work in land-record digitisation and participation in district-level public initiatives.
