Kashish Mittal IAS is a former Indian Administrative Service officer, technology expert, classical vocalist, and entrepreneur. He is widely known for clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination with All India Rank 58 and later leaving the prestigious IAS career to pursue music and technology.
The story of Kashish Mittal IAS is unique because it connects public administration, artificial intelligence, and classical music. After serving in the civil services for several years, he resigned and later worked with Microsoft Research. In 2025, he co-founded an artificial intelligence startup called Disha AI.
This biography explains the life journey, education, UPSC rank, career, resignation, and achievements of Kashish Mittal.
Quick Info – Kashish Mittal
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kashish Mittal |
| Profession | Former IAS Officer, AI Entrepreneur, Classical Singer |
| Known For | UPSC Rank 58, Former IAS Officer |
| Date of Birth | 1989 |
| Birthplace | Jalandhar, Punjab, India |
| Age | Around 37 years (as of 2026) |
| Wife | Arpita Gupta |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Cadre | AGMUT Cadre |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 58 |
| UPSC Year | 2011 |
| IIT-JEE Rank | All India Rank 6 |
| Education | B.Tech Computer Science, IIT Delhi |
| Music Style | Hindustani Classical (Agra Gharana) |
| Startup | Co-Founder, Disha AI (Founded March 2025, Bengaluru) |
| Parents | Father: Jagdish Kumar (IPS Officer, Mathematician) Mother: Sangeeta Mittal |
| Guru | Pandit Yashpaul |
Kashish Mittal Early Life and Family
Kashish Mittal was born in 1989 in Jalandhar, Punjab. He grew up in a family that valued both education and culture. His household was a mix of discipline and art.
Join NowFather Jagdish Kumar is a decorated IPS officer who was also a mathematician.He gave Kashish a strong sense of order, logic, and duty towards the nation.
Kashish’s Mother, Sangeeta Mittal brought warmth and cultural love into the home. Although neither parent had formal training in classical music, both had a deep passion for it. They made a conscious choice to introduce Kashish and his brother Lavish to Hindustani classical music from a very young age.
This early environment uniquely shaped Kashish Mittal IAS. He learned to love both numbers and notes at the same time. This combination became the foundation of his extraordinary life.
Kashish Mittal IAS Wife
People often serach on his married life and wife name, Kashish Mittal IAS is married to Arpita Gupta. The couple reportedly got married in February 2020. However, Arpita Gupta prefers to keep her life private and stay away from media attention and social media publicity.
Kashish Mittal IAS Education
Kashish Mittal was a brilliant student throughout his school life. He performed extremely well in science and mathematics. He cleared the highly competitive IIT-JEE examination with All India Rank 6, which allowed him to join the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
You should also check our article on officers biographies like Anjana Krishna IPS Biography, who is a brave lady who fights for illegal land mining.
He studied Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi from 2006 to 2010. During his academic years, he also cleared several national level academic competitions.
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| IIT JEE Rank | AIR 6 |
| IIT Degree | B.Tech Computer Science |
| College | IIT Delhi |
| Olympiad | Cleared National Olympiads in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
| Physics Olympiad | Gold Medal |
UPSC Journey
After completing his B.Tech from IIT Delhi, Kashish decided to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. He cleared it on his very first attempt in 2011. He secured All India Rank 58, which is a strong result in one of the toughest exams in the world.
What made this even more impressive is his age. He was just 21 years and two days old when he joined the IAS. This made him one of the youngest IAS officers in his batch.
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He was allotted the AGMUT cadre. This cadre covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories including Delhi and Chandigarh. It requires officers to serve in both urban cities and remote frontier regions.
Postings And Roles
| Year | Posting / Role | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Joined IAS – AGMUT Cadre | AIR 58, first attempt, age 21 |
| 2013–2016 | ADC / RLA / Director IT, Chandigarh | E-governance, HSRP rollout, VIP number auctions |
| May 2016 | OSD & DC Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh | Crisis management, border infrastructure |
| Aug 2016 | Private Secretary to MoS External Affairs | Federal diplomacy and international coordination |
| 2017–2019 | Addl. Principal Secretary, NITI Aayog | National AI Strategy, Aspirational Districts Programme, EV Policy |
| Sept 2019 | Resigned from IAS | Chose music and entrepreneurship over bureaucracy |
Why Did Kashish Mittal IAS Resign from the IAS?
Kashish Mittal IAS resigned from the Indian Administrative Service in September 2019 after serving for about nine years. The immediate reason was a transfer order to Arunachal Pradesh while he was working on important policy work at NITI Aayog. However, the bigger reason was personal. Kashish Mittal wanted to dedicate himself fully to Hindustani classical music.
He had been practicing music early every morning before office. But he realized that serious classical music requires complete dedication and long hours of riyaaz. Practicing for a short time every day was not enough to reach the highest level of the Agra Gharana tradition. He once said that he was already a good singer before joining the IAS, but to grow further he needed full commitment to music.
His resignation surprised many people. In India, becoming an IAS officer is seen as one of the biggest achievements. Leaving the service is very rare. But Kashish chose to follow what gave him real happiness and peace of mind. He often described music as something that gives him a deep sense of bliss and calm.
Later, his story became popular on social media. Many people admired his courage to leave a prestigious career and follow his passion. For Him, the decision was not a loss. It was simply a different path in life.
Social Media Presence
Kashish Mittal is active on LinkedIn and Instagram. He uses these platforms to share classical music videos, philosophical thoughts, and career advice. Between 2024 and 2025, several of his videos went viral on social media.
- Instagram – @kashishmittal
His posts often talk about choosing passion, leaving comfort zones, and building meaningful careers. He connects deeply with young professionals and UPSC aspirants through his content.
