Ishita Rathi is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 2022 batch of the AGMUT cadre. She got All India Rank (AIR) 8 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021. She is currently serving as the District Collector of Karaikal in Puducherry.
She comes from a Delhi Police family. Both her parents are police officers. Her journey from a police household to becoming an IAS officer with AIR 8 is truly inspiring. She cleared UPSC in her third attempt at the age of 26.
Quick Info – Ishita Rathi
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Ishita Rathi |
| Date of Birth | May 20, 1996 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 29 years |
| Birthplace / Hometown | Delhi (Ancestral roots: Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| UPSC Exam Year | UPSC CSE 2021 |
| All India Rank | AIR 8 |
| IAS Batch | 2022 Batch |
| Cadre | AGMUT |
| Optional Subject | Economics |
| Current Posting | District Collector, Karaikal, Puducherry (as of 2026) |
| Father | Iqbal S. Rathi (Head Constable, Delhi Police – Traffic Unit) |
| Mother | Meenakshi Rathi (ASI, Delhi Police – South-East District) |
| Husband | Ravi Kumar Sihag IAS (AIR 18, UPSC CSE 2021) |
| Marriage Date | December 16, 2025 |
| College | Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University |
| Postgraduate | Madras School of Economics, Chennai |
Ishita Rathi IAS Early Life and Family
Ishita Rathi was born on May 20, 1996, in Delhi. She is 29 years old as of 2026. Her family currently lives in Chhatarpur Village, South Delhi. Their ancestral roots are from Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh.
Her family has a strong background in public service. Both her parents serve in the Delhi Police. Her father Iqbal S. Rathi is a Head Constable in the Traffic Unit. Her mother Meenakshi Rathi is an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted in the South-East District.
Join NowHer uncle works as an officer in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Her younger brother is also preparing for government competitive examinations. So public service is a big part of the Rathi family tradition.
Growing up, Ishita Rathi saw her parents wear police uniforms every day. This had a deep impact on her. She understood from a young age what public service really means. Her mother would often share stories about senior police officers, including former IPS officer Kiran Bedi. These stories motivated Ishita Rathi to dream of joining the IAS.
If you like Ishita Rathi’s story, you will also enjoy reading about Divya Tanwar IAS, another young and inspiring officer who cleared UPSC twice to achieve her goal.
Ishita Rathi IAS Husband and Personal Life
Ishita Rathi IAS is married to Ravi Kumar Sihag, who achieve AIR 18 in UPSC 2021. He is from Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan and belongs to a farming family. The couple got married on December 16, 2025. Their wedding gained attention because they chose a simple and completely dowry-free marriage. Both families supported this decision, and the ceremony was held in Anupgarh, Rajasthan.
After marriage, Ravi Kumar Sihag applied for an inter-cadre transfer. He was earlier posted in the Madhya Pradesh cadre. During his posting, he served as a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Lakhnadon, Seoni district. His work was mainly related to administration and public service at the local level.
As per the rules of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), IAS officers can request a cadre transfer after marriage so that couples can stay together. His request was accepted, and his transfer to the AGMUT cadre was officially approved on March 9, 2026. This decision allowed both officers to continue their service while staying together.
Ishita Rathi IAS Education
Ishita Rathi completed her schooling at DAV Public School in Vasant Kunj, South Delhi. She studied Science and also took Economics as a subject.
After school, she joined the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) at Delhi University. She studied Economics (Hons.) and graduated with a First Division.
| Level | Institution / Details |
| Schooling | DAV Public School, Vasant Kunj, Delhi – Science with Economics |
| Graduation (B.A. Hons.) | Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University – Economics (First Division) |
| Post Graduation (M.A.) | Madras School of Economics, Chennai – Economics (First Division) |
She then moved to Chennai to pursue her Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics from the Madras School of Economics. She again scored a First Division.
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She had always kept academics as a backup plan. If she had not cleared UPSC, she planned to become a professor or academic in Economics.
UPSC Journey and Attempts
The UPSC journey of Ishita Rathi IAS is a story of patience, hard work, and consistency. She did not succeed in her first attempt, but she kept improving her strategy step by step.
In her first attempt (2019), she was not able to clear the Preliminary exam. This phase helped her understand the pattern and depth of the UPSC exam. In her second attempt (2020), she performed much better. She cleared both Prelims and Mains and reached the Interview stage. However, she missed the final selection by around 10 marks.
Third Attempt – 2021 (AIR 8)
In her third and final attempt in 2021, Ishita Rathi gave it everything she had. She not only cleared all three stages but also secured All India Rank 8. She was 26 years old at the time.
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana officially felicitated her at the Delhi Police Headquarters. She was given a memento as a mark of recognition and honour.
Ishita Rathi IAS UPSC Marksheet
| Exam Stage | Marks Obtained |
| Written (Mains) | 862 |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 168 |
| Final Total | 1030 |
Ishita Rathi IAS scored 862 marks in the Mains written exam out of 1750. This is a very strong performance. Her interview score was 168 out of 275. Her final total was 1030 out of 2025.
Her biggest strength was her written performance. The high Mains score gave her a solid lead that helped her secure a top-10 rank.
Career and Posting
Ishita Rathi IAS started her administrative career as Sub-Collector (Revenue), Puducherry North on October 16, 2024. During this period, she worked on important public issues. One of her key initiatives was controlling drug and tobacco use near schools. She ensured strict monitoring and helped create 100-meter safety zones around educational institutions.
| Period | Designation & Location |
| October 2024 – January 2026 | Sub-Collector (Revenue), North Region, Puducherry |
| February 2026 – Present | District Collector, Karaikal, Puducherry |
After gaining field experience, she was promoted to a higher role. She is currently serving as District Collector, Karaikal (Puducherry). In this position, she handles district administration, public welfare schemes, and law and order. Her work shows a strong focus on governance and social welfare.
Social Media Presence
Ishita Rathi IAS is not very active on social media. She keeps a low public profile online. Most of the information about her work comes from official administrative announcements and news reports.
- Instagram – @ias_ishita.rathi
Her professional work and postings are covered regularly by regional and national news outlets, especially in the context of Puducherry and Karaikal administrations.
