The Unstoppable Journey of IAS Pradeep Gawande
From a Small Town in Maharashtra
Dr.
Pradeep Gawande’s story starts far from the big offices of government, in a simple home in Maharashtra.He was born on 9 December 1980 in a lower-middle-class family with big dreams and quiet determination.Some sources say he was born in Latur, others in Pune, but everyone agrees he came from humble beginnings and knew early on that education was the best way forward.
A Doctor Before an Administrator
Before he became a civil servant, Gawande chose a career in medicine.
He passed the NEET exam and got his MBBS from a government medical college, which is why many still call him “Dr.Pradeep Gawande.” Instead of sticking to a regular medical job, he aimed for something even bigger: passing the Union Public Service Commission exam, one of the hardest tests in the country.
IAS/UPSC Coaching
In 2012, Gawande ranked 478 in the Civil Services Exam and was inducted into the Indian Administrative Service.
He joined the service on 2 September 2013 and was allotted Rajasthan cadre.His first appointment was as Assistant Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers.Transitioning from caring for patients to running a district was a big change in his life, but it was the same discipline and problem-solving ability that helped him succeed in medical school.
Over the next decade, Gawande made a name for himself as an effective administrator.
He began his career as Assistant Collector of Bundi and acquired experience of district administration, revenue and land records.He was Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Dholpur, in charge of law and order, elections and government programmes.He has held several positions, including Commissioner in the Colonisation Department, Managing Director of Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Nigam Ltd., Director of the Archaeology & Museum Department and Managing Director of Rajasthan State Livelihoods Development Corporation. He also served as CEO of the Jodhpur Zilla Parishad, CEO of the Bikaner Municipal Council, and District Collector of Churu during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic a role that tested both his medical background and his administrative skills.
Currently Leading as District Collector
Today, Dr.
Gawande is the Collector and District Magistrate of Jalore, Rajasthan.In this role, he is at the heart of governance, responsible for public welfare, law and order, and many other key areas of district management.
A Life Beyond Administration
Gawande’s public profile grew when his personal and professional lives became closely linked.
He is married to Tina Dabi, another IAS officer who was the top ranker in the 2015 UPSC exam and the first Dalit woman to join the IAS.They met during the second wave of the pandemic while both were working in the health department in Jaipur, and their friendship grew into a lasting relationship that led to marriage in April 2022.The couple welcomed their first child in September 2023.Though they are often seen as a “power couple” in the civil services, Gawande prefers to stay away from social media and let his work speak for itself.
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