Early Life and Education
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Mahendra Kumar is a member of the 2011 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), allocated to the Bihar cadre.
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He was allotted to Bihar as his state cadre, representing the OBC category in the allocation list. (CSE Plus)
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In his early schooling, he attended Sainik School Tilaiya (in Jharkhand) which is well-known for grooming students for disciplined, high-performance careers. (LinkedIn)
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He later pursued engineering at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. (Telegraph India)
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Following his engineering graduation, Mahendra Kumar briefly worked as a Junior Scientist at DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation). (Telegraph India)
This foundation of technical education and early research experience likely shaped his later administrative mindset combining technical rigor with governance.
Entry into Civil Services & Early Assignments
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After his stint in DRDO, Mahendra Kumar cleared relevant examinations (including possibly railway/service exams as per some reports), and then entered the IAS. (Telegraph India)
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As a 2011 batch IAS officer, he began his cadre service in Bihar. (Scribd)
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In the IAS civil list, his first major district-level posting recorded in Bihar was as District Magistrate & Collector (DM) of Siwan district (from 04 August 2015 to 29 April 2018). (Siwan District)
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He has also been transferred among districts — for example, he was shifted from Siwan to Kishanganj as DM in a large IAS transfer of 45 officers in Bihar. (The Times of India)
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More recently, he was appointed as the District Magistrate of Bhojpur in Bihar. (Indian Masterminds)
These district-level roles gave him on-ground exposure to governance, local administration, law and order, revenue matters, and citizen-facing duties.
Administrative & Secretariat Roles
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Apart from district postings, Mahendra Kumar has held various roles in the government and departmental structure of Bihar. For example, he is currently (or was recently) serving as Managing Director of SBPDCL (State Power Holding / Distribution Company) and simultaneously as Director, Sports, Government of Bihar. He is listed on Twitter/X with the handle @mahendrakr_ias citing these positions. (X (formerly Twitter))
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In the Bihar state government’s directory under the Department of Sports, Mahendra Kumar is shown as Director, Sports, Government of Bihar. (Bihar Government)
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His directory listing in the IAS Civil List or official “IAS Posting Detail” site also identifies his profile (as “Dr. Mahendra Kumar”). (Niyukti Online)
These roles indicate a transition from district-level administration to departmental and policy-level responsibilities within the state apparatus.
Central Deputation & Higher Administrative Roles
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Mahendra Kumar also served on central deputation in the Ministry of Labour & Employment as Joint Secretary. His tenure there was extended for one year beyond May 2025. (Whispersinthecorridors)
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According to the Ministry of Labour & Employment “Who’s Who”, Dr. Mahendra Kumar is indeed listed as Joint Secretary, and his contact details are publicly available. (Ministry of Labour & Employment)
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In August 2024, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary, NITI Aayog (a central planning and policy think-tank) effective from 13 August 2024. (NITI Aayog)
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WhispersInTheCorridors (a governance news site) also reports the same appointment. (Whispersinthecorridors)
These central-level positions show that Mahendra Kumar is not confined to state-level duties but also contributes to national-level administration and policy.
Recent News & Public Visibility
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On social media (X/Twitter), Mahendra Kumar’s account @mahendrakr_ias identifies his roles in the Bihar government. (X (formerly Twitter))
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He has been engaged in energy and electricity sector oversight in Bihar (e.g. via roles in SBPDCL) and in sports development in the state (via the sports department). (Instagram)
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His name has featured in discussions of IAS transfers and reshuffles in Bihar government. (The Times of India)
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In 2025, his central deputation tenure at the Ministry of Labour & Employment as Joint Secretary was extended. (Whispersinthecorridors)
However, unlike some bureaucrats, there is not (as of current publicly available sources) a large number of major controversies directly tied to him. But a few related items and events merit mention below.
Controversies, Scandals, and Media Highlights
While not many high-profile scandals connected directly to Mahendra Kumar are on record, there are a few incidents and claims to note:
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Proposed marriage and tragic related incident
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In 2018, news media reported a tragic event: A day before her wedding, Snigdha Kumari, daughter of retired IG Umashankar Sudhanshu, died by suicide (jumping off a building). She was reportedly to marry Kishanganj DM Mahendra Kumar (the same IAS officer) the next day. (The Times of India)
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While the incident is tragic and linked to his name, no direct public allegations or findings indicated Mahendra Kumar’s fault or responsibility in that incident (as per the sources). But it certainly drew media attention.
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Transfers and power-play narratives
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As with many IAS officers in states like Bihar, transfers, postings, and bureaucratic politics sometimes create speculation. Mahendra Kumar has shifted across districts and departments, and his name appears in media coverage of IAS reshuffles. (The Times of India)
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In a broader context of politicization of bureaucracy in Bihar, media often comment on allegations of caste, favoritism, or interference. In one article, a former IAS officer reflected on how “politics, inter-services rivalry, caste vendetta” has affected IAS officers in Bihar. While not naming Mahendra Kumar, such commentary frames the kind of institutional environment in which he operates. (National Herald)
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Absence of major direct allegations in public domain
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As of this writing, I did not find credible, major corruption or scandal allegations directly naming Mahendra Kumar (Bihar cadre) in mainstream national/regional media.
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Many of his roles (e.g. in power distribution, sports, district administration) are areas often under scrutiny, which means oversight and media commentary are natural, but no proven or widely accepted accusations are on record.
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Thus, his public profile is more of a rising bureaucrat with exposure across district, state, and central duties rather than a figure embroiled in major controversies.
Summary & Assessment of His Career Journey
Mahendra Kumar’s journey presents a picture of a well-rounded and mobile civil servant:
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Strong technical and academic foundation (engineering + DRDO)
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Entry into IAS (2011 batch, Bihar cadre)
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Multiple district level assignments (Siwan, Kishanganj, Bhojpur)
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Transition to state department roles (power, sports)
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Deputation at central level (Ministry of Labour & Employment, NITI Aayog)
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Public visibility via social media and departmental directories
He seems to be building a multi-domain administrative portfolio rather than specializing in one niche. That can be both a strength (versatility) and a challenge (depth). The absence of major controversies visible in public domain can be seen as a positive for his reputation (though not definitive proof of an unblemished record).
Top Interesting Facts About Mahendra Kumar, IAS
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Sainik School to IAS
He started at Sainik School Tilaiya and ultimately made it to one of India’s highest civil service cadres. -
Engineering + DRDO Experience
Before joining IAS, he worked as a junior scientist in DRDO, giving him exposure to technical projects and research. -
Multi-level administrative exposure
He has served at district (DM), state (departmental director, MD roles), and central (Joint Secretary, NITI Aayog) levels — quite a broad spectrum. -
Dual roles in state government
At one point, he held (or held recently) two important roles simultaneously: MD of a power/distribution company (SBPDCL) and Director of Sports in Bihar. (X (formerly Twitter)) -
Name in social media / open directories
He maintains a public profile (X/Twitter) under @mahendrakr_ias, which is relatively uncommon for bureaucrats to use actively in official capacity. (X (formerly Twitter)) -
Survived media scrutiny
Despite operating in high-visibility areas (district administration, power, infrastructure), there is no widely known scandal or conviction against him as of now. -
Frequent transfers
Reflecting the nature of Indian bureaucracy, he has been moved through multiple districts and departments — a factor that shapes many IAS careers in states like Bihar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Mahendra Kumar’s batch and cadre?
A: He is from the 2011 IAS batch and belongs to the Bihar cadre.
Q2: What are his major roles so far?
A: He has served as District Magistrate in Siwan and Bhojpur, Director of Sports (Bihar), Managing Director (SBPDCL), Joint Secretary in Ministry of Labour & Employment, and Deputy Secretary at NITI Aayog, among others. (X (formerly Twitter))
Q3: Has he been involved in any controversies?
A: There is no major documented corruption scandal or legal conviction against him in reliable media sources. A tragic personal incident (alleged marriage link) was widely written about, but no finding of blame. Transfers and bureaucratic politics often bring scrutiny, but nothing conclusive. See the section above.
Q4: What is his educational background?
A: He studied at Sainik School Tilaiya and then pursued engineering from NIT Hamirpur. He also worked with DRDO before entering administrative service. (LinkedIn)
Q5: Is he serving in central government currently?
A: Yes — as of August 2024, he has been appointed as Deputy Secretary, NITI Aayog. (NITI Aayog) And his central deputation as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment has also been extended. (Whispersinthecorridors)
Q6: Does he have a public social media presence?
A: Yes, he uses X / Twitter under the handle @mahendrakr_ias, with reference to his governmental roles. (X (formerly Twitter))
Q7: What districts has he served as DM?
A: He has served as District Magistrate in Siwan (2015–2018) and later in Bhojpur. (Siwan District)
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