Dhiman Chakma is an IAS officer who comes from a small town called Kanchanpur in Tripura. His journey from a remote village to the Indian Administrative Service inspired many students in the Northeast. He cleared the UPSC exam twice. First, he joined the Indian Forest Service (IFS). Then he improved his rank and joined the IAS.
However, his career took a dark turn in June 2025. He was caught red-handed by Odisha Vigilance while accepting a bribe. After a raid at his government residence, officials also found ₹47 lakh in unaccounted cash. His story went from being an inspiration to a cautionary tale.
Dhiman Chakma IAS – Quick Info
| Full Name | Dhiman Chakma |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 November 1989 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 37 years |
| Hometown | Kanchanpur, North Tripura, Tripura |
| Father | School Teacher (name not publicly disclosed) |
| Mother | Homemaker |
| Wife | Dr. Monika Chakma (Minnie) |
| Category | Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
| Community | Chakma (Tribal Community) |
| Education | B.Tech in Computer Science, NIT Agartala |
| UPSC Coaching | Residential Coaching Academy (RCA), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
| UPSC Rank (2019) | AIR 722 (Indian Forest Service) |
| UPSC Rank (2020) | AIR 482 (Indian Administrative Service) |
| Service | IAS (Indian Administrative Service) |
| Batch | 2021 |
| Cadre | Odisha |
| Last Posting | Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha |
| Current Status | Suspended (since June 10, 2025) |
| @dhimanchakma_ias |
Dhiman Chakma IAS Early Life and Family
Dhiman Chakma was born on 15 November 1989 in Kanchanpur, a remote sub-division in the North Tripura district of Tripura. He belongs to the Chakma community, which is a recognized Scheduled Tribe in India.
His father worked as a school teacher. His mother is a homemaker. The family had limited resources, but education was always a priority in the household. His father’s profession as a teacher helped Dhiman develop a strong academic foundation from a young age.
Join NowKanchanpur is a geographically isolated area with limited access to coaching centres and competitive exam resources. He became the first person from his family and his hometown of Kanchanpur to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Dhiman Chakma IAS Wife and Personal Life
Dhiman Chakma IAS is married to Dr. Monika Chakma, who is also known as Dr. Minnie Dhiman Chakma. She is a doctor by profession. She has been a strong support in his career and personal life.
Not much is publicly known about his extended family. His in-laws are reportedly based in Himachal Pradesh. During the vigilance investigation, raids were conducted at his in-laws’ residences in Manali (Kullu district) and Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
Dhiman Chakma IAS Education
Dhiman Chakma completed his early education in Tripura. He later pursued higher studies at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala. He graduated with a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from NIT Agartala.
NIT Agartala is one of the premier engineering colleges in India. Studying computer science gave him strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
After completing his engineering degree, Dhiman Chakma worked in the private sector for some time. He had a well-paying job in a corporate company. However, he left his private-sector career to prepare full-time for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
UPSC Journey
Dhiman Chakma could not afford expensive private coaching in Delhi. He got admission to the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The RCA provides free coaching, library access, and hostel facilities to aspirants from minority, SC, ST, and women categories. This centre played a key role in his preparation. He was among the 30 students from Jamia RCA who cleared UPSC CSE 2019.
Dhiman Chakma IAS first cleared the UPSC exam in 2019 with All India Rank 722. He was selected for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and posted as Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha. However, his goal was to become an IAS officer. So he appeared for the exam again in 2020 while serving in the forest service.
In his final attempt, he improved his rank and secured AIR 482 under the ST category. This rank got him into the Indian Administrative Service. He was allotted the Odisha cadre once again and joined the IAS 2021 batch.
Check out Divya Tanwar IAS Biography, who cleared UPSC twice and upgraded from IPS to IAS.
Dhiman Chakma IAS UPSC Marksheet
| Exam Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Written Examination (Mains) | 719 / 1750 |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 201 / 275 |
| Total Score | 920 / 2025 |
| All India Rank | 482 (ST Category) |
Dhiman Chakma IAS scored 201 marks in the UPSC interview, which is a very high score. The interview tests a candidate’s personality, mental alertness, and moral integrity. His high interview marks showed that he could present himself well in front of the UPSC board.
Dhiman Chakma IAS Career and Postings
After clearing the UPSC exam, Dhiman Chakma completed his training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. He also underwent district-level training in Odisha.
| Period | Posting | Location |
|---|---|---|
| June 2021 onwards | Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) – IFS | Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha |
| December 2021 | Appointed to IAS (2021 Batch) | Odisha Cadre |
| 2022–2023 | Training at LBSNAA and District Training | Mussoorie / Odisha |
| 29 January 2024 | Sub-Collector & Sub-Divisional Magistrate | Dharamgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha |
| 10 June 2025 | Suspended from IAS | HQ fixed at GA&PG Dept, Bhubaneswar |
His date of appointment to the IAS is recorded as 5 December 2021. On 29 January 2024, he took charge as Sub-Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district. This was his first independent administrative posting.
Bribery Case and Arrest (2025)
On 8 June 2025, Dhiman Chakma IAS was caught red-handed by Odisha Vigilance while accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh at his government residence in Dharamgarh. A local stone crusher owner, Harsha Bardhan Behera, had been fined ₹1.6 crore for excessive mining. Chakma allegedly demanded ₹20 lakh to reduce the penalty.
Instead of paying, Behera filed a complaint with Odisha Vigilance. Officials laid a trap using currency notes treated with phenolphthalein powder. Chemical tests on Chakma’s hands and drawer turned positive. The entire ₹10 lakh was recovered. A further search of his residence also uncovered ₹47.47 lakh in unaccounted cash and some foreign currency. Simultaneous raids were conducted at his family home in Kanchanpur (Tripura) and his in-laws’ residences in Manali and Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal Pradesh).
On 9 June 2025, Dhiman Chakma was formally arrested under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Vigilance Court in Bhawanipatna rejected his bail plea and sent him to judicial custody. On 10 June 2025, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered his immediate suspension from the IAS. Later, the Orissa High Court granted him bail on 24 July 2025 with a bond of ₹5 lakh, surrender of passport, and full cooperation with the investigation.
You may also like to read about Abhishek Prakash IAS, who was also suspended from service over corruption allegations.
Note: Dhiman Chakma IAS is currently out on bail. The case is still under investigation. The trial has not started yet. The granting of bail does not imply that the court has expressed an opinion on the merits of the case.
Social Media Presence
Dhiman Chakma IAS had an Instagram account under the handle @dhimanchakma_ias. Before his arrest, he used to share posts related to his administrative work and personal updates. After the bribery scandal, his social media presence has reduced significantly.
