Early Life & Education
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu, born likely in the late 1980s in Delhi, hails from an academically driven family. His schooling took place at the Sacred Heart Convent School in Ludhiana, where he achieved stellar results—approximately 89.6% in Class X and 86.4% in Class XII (Rediff, Hindustan Times).
He pursued engineering and graduated from IIT Roorkee with a B.Tech in Paper Technology (or the broader field of Paper Technology) (Rediff, The secretariat).
UPSC Journey & Rank
Jasmeet embarked on his UPSC journey in 2010, unsuccessfully attempting it in his first two tries. Undeterred, he joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in his third attempt. Finally, in 2015, on his fourth attempt, he achieved All India Rank 3 in the Civil Services Examination, fulfilling his long-held ambition of becoming an IAS officer (Rediff, BYJU'S, Hindustan Times).
He opted for Punjabi Literature as his optional subject, after initially choosing Psychology and Public Administration, and credits the change as a game-changer (BYJU'S, Rediff).
Personal Motivation & Vision
In an interview back in 2016, Jasmeet expressed a strong desire to fight corruption and champion transparency, championing the idea that public resource information should be open and accessible—to elevate civil-servant accountability (Rediff).
Career Highlights and Awards
Over the course of his administrative career, he has held key roles across the Rajasthan cadre:
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CEO, District Council Jaipur — led cleanliness initiatives and earned awards for transformative sanitation efforts.
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Collector of Salumber — under his stewardship, the “Sambal Abhiyan” was launched—transforming the lives of over 7,500 people with disabilities by facilitating access to disability certificates, pensions, scholarships, assistive devices, UDID cards, accessible infrastructure, and inclusive education (Indian Masterminds).
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Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2024 — conferred for his pathbreaking work in Salumber (The BuckStopper, Indian Masterminds).
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National Award for Cleanliness — earned during his term in Jaipur (The BuckStopper).
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Excellence in Governance Award (social welfare category) from The Indian Express — while serving as collector in Bhilwara (Instagram).
In January 2025, he was transferred from Salumber to become Collector of Bhilwara (The Times of India).
Recent Initiatives & Notable Orders
As Collector of Bhilwara, on 31 July 2025, Sandhu issued a widely discussed gag order prohibiting farewell celebrations (complete with dhol-nagada and loud music) during office hours, citing concerns over sound pollution and workplace disruption. The directive mandated such events be held outside working hours or face disciplinary action. The order sparked mixed reactions—some staff favored the focus on decorum and efficiency, while others felt it muted a cultural tribute to retiring colleagues (The BuckStopper).
Recent News & Controversies
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Gag Order on Farewells (July 2025) – This administrative directive in Bhilwara drew media attention and diverse responses. Viewed by some as a step towards maintaining decorum, others labeled it as overly strict, curbing cultural expressions (The BuckStopper).
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Sambal Abhiyan (early 2025) – Lauded as a compassionate, inclusive administrative innovation, the campaign significantly improved access to benefits for persons with disabilities in Salumber (Indian Masterminds).
Currently, there are no controversies or scandals reported in credible sources beyond the debate around the gag order, which reflects a nuanced discussion rather than a major controversy.
Personal Life
Power-Couple Dynamics
Jasmeet is married to Artika Shukla, an IAS officer from the same 2016 batch, who is serving as Collector of Alwar. Artika herself is an AIR-4 rank holder—making them one of Rajasthan's noted IAS power couples (DNA India, WeRIndia).
Their journey traces back to their UPSC days; they've been together since around 2017 and are often featured together in media articles highlighting civil services couples (DNA India).
Personal Interests
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A passionate football fan, Jasmeet supports Arsenal, which he watches with his brother (Rediff).
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He values self-directed learning—he prepared for UPSC independently, relying on past toppers’ answer sheets and refining his own strategy (Rediff).
Top Interesting Facts
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UPSC Rank & Determination: Achieved AIR-3 in 2015 after four attempts, with a background in Paper Technology from IIT Roorkee.
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Empowerment Pioneer: Crafted & led "Sambal Abhiyan" in Salumber, aiding over 7,500 persons with disabilities—focused on certificates, UDID cards, pensions, education, infrastructure, and assistive support.
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Cleanliness Champion: Won national accolades for sanitation efforts in Jaipur as District Council CEO.
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Gag Order Directive: In July 2025, issued a unique administrative order limiting farewell celebrations during office hours in Bhilwara, citing routine continuity and sound concerns.
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Governance Laureate: Recipient of the 2024 National Award for Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Indian Express's Excellence in Governance Award (social welfare category).
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Life Partner in Service: Married to co-batch IAS officer Artika Shukla (AIR-4), who is serving as Collector of Alwar.
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Transparent Visionary: Advocates transparency, aiming to put public resources data in the public domain to enhance accountability.
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Football Aficionado: Enjoys watching Arsenal with his brother.
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Educational Roots: Excelling in school, later in IIT Roorkee, transitioning to top-tier civil service ranks.
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Independent Learner: Prepared for UPSC largely on his own, with minimal reliance on coaching.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q | A |
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Who is Jasmeet Singh Sandhu? | An IAS officer from the 2016 batch (Rajasthan cadre), who secured AIR 3 in UPSC CSE 2015. |
What’s his educational background? | He is an IIT Roorkee graduate, B.Tech in Paper Technology. |
What initiatives has he led? | “Sambal Abhiyan” in Salumber for disability empowerment; cleanliness initiatives in Jaipur; and governance in Bhilwara with unique directives. |
Any notable awards? | 2024 National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; National cleanliness awards; Excellence in Governance Award from The Indian Express. |
What was the farewell violence gag order? | In July 2025, as Bhilwara Collector, he banned music-loud farewell celebrations during office hours to preserve decorum—sparked both praise and debate. |
Who is Artika Shukla? | His wife, also an IAS officer from the 2016 batch, AIR 4, currently serving as Collector of Alwar. |
What does he believe in? | Transparent governance, fighting corruption, creating accessible systems for the vulnerable. |
Is he into sports? | Yes—he’s a fan of Arsenal football club. |
How many UPSC attempts did he take? | Four attempts—cleared in the fourth with top rank. |
Any controversies? | No major controversies surfaced, beyond public discussion around the gag order in Bhilwara. |
Conclusion
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu exemplifies the modern, reform-minded IAS officer—combining technological insight, empathetic leadership, and unwavering integrity. From spearheading disability access projects like Sambal Abhiyan to enforcing office decorum with context-sensitive directives, he balances innovation and discipline. Alongside his wife, Artika Shukla, they are a celebrated IAS duo in Rajasthan.
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