Indian Administrative Services is termed as the pinnacle of bureaucracy in the Indian services system that has thousands of aspirants vying for the coveted posts each year. A Civil servant is someone standing out from the crowd, and to become one you have to have a strong mettle and focus.
If you are someone who is eyeing to become a part of Indian Civil Service and have a will to be top-notch, well-respected and a keen desire to serve the nation, here’s an inspiring story for you – IAS Lokesh Jangid. Right from his early life years to preparing for Civil Services, he has become a well revered IAS officer known for pioneering policies and works.
Recently transferred to the post of District Collector of Niwari District, MP, Lokesh Kumar Jangid’s is a story of perseverance, determination and a vision to change the society with pioneering steps.
IAS Lokesh Jangid – Early Life
Born in Nagaur district of Rajasthan to a middle class family, his full name is Kumar Lokesh Jangid Ramachandra. His father’s name is Ramachandra Jangid. His grandfather Madanlal Ji Jjangid, who was a carpenter by profession, moved to Maharashtra in 1952 for livelihood. Later, in 1986, the entire family moved to Maharashtra when Lokesh was just 4 months old.
Lokesh’s life wasn’t an easy one, as he lost his father in 1993 to an accident, and it led the family facing several crisis. It was Lokesh’s grandfather who took care of him and his siblings.
Bonding with Grandfather Over Newspaper - Inspiration to Become Civil Servant
Lokesh’s grandfather was a hardworking man who always valued the power of knowledge and study. He settled in the Parbhani district and started his own saw mill there. Lokesh’s credits the early inspiration to pursue a career in the field of administration and political affairs to his grandfather. When Lokesh was young he used to watch his grandfather diligently following newspapers and political and current affairs in the country. Lokesh too got interested and that set the stage for him to become involved in the social, political and economic landscape of the country. He also used to watch TV news and follow Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on television.
Education of IAS Lokesh Jangid
Lokesh Jangid did his schooling from Bal Vidya Mandir Junior College, Bhopal, and later went on to pursue Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science. Sicne his early days we has a bright student academically and also excelled in extra-curricular activities, especially debates. Although he was studying engineering and like others the usual path was heading into the corporate world, it wasn’t what Lokesh was interested in. He used to go to libraries for study and there he had a habit of reading current affair and political affair magazines. This was when he thought of preparing for UPSC exam.
Decided Against Pursuing a High-Paying Corporate Job to Serve the Nation
He was in 3rd year of B.Tech when he was placed in Tata Consultancy Services. Once he completed his engineering in 2008, he decided against joining the corporate world and moved to New Delhi to dedicate his full time into preparing for Civil Services.
Lack of Funds Didn’t Deter his Will to Become IAS
Being from a middle class family, for whom monetary needs were always a big concern, deciding against joining TCS and following his IAS dreams meant he not only wouldn’t be able to contribute financially to his family, but also needed to have some funds for his study. However, he found backing from his uncle Ashok Jangid, who understood the career ambition of Lokesh and asked him to continue preparing for IAS and not worry about family finances in the absence of his father.
Self-Study – The Strategy Laying the Base for his Strong Academic Foundation
Throughout his academic life, Lokesh Jangid was excellent in academies, and most of this can be credited to his approach for self-study. He has always believed in the power of self-study, something which has served him well. While he had lack of funds, his penchant for keeping updates with the recent news and using resources wisely, he made the best of his time management skills and strategic study plans to clear the exam.
IAS Lokesh Jangid – Clearing UPSC Exam
Very few aspirants are able to crack and clear the UPSC at their first attempt. And Lokesh has been one of those few. He cleared the 2009 exam in the first attempt and got All India Rank 910. After that, under the reserve category, he got posted as DANICS in Lakshadweep Islands.
Journey to Continuing IAS Preparation for the 2nd Time
While IAS Lokesh Kumar Jangid cleared the exam in the first attempt and got posted, he still wasn’t fully satisfied. It was his determination and desire to achieve more and be at the top in the bureaucratic order that he started preparing for another crack at the UPSC.
Posted in Lakshadweep, there was scarcity of resources in the form of new study material, test series and coaching. However, it didn’t deter Lokesh, and he made use of online platform and other sources that he could gather to prepare for the written exam and interview.
IAS Lokesh Kumar Jangid Cracked UPSC for the 2nd Time with All India Rank 68
It was in the CSE 2014 that Lokesh cracked the UPSC exam and this time he achieved a far better position than his first successful attempt as he secured 68th rank in the country. Following this, he completed his training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie and got MP cadre.
Life as an Administrative Officer for IAS Lokesh Jangid
IAS Lokesh Kumar Jangid’s first posting was as the Assistant Collector of Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh. After that he has worked in several capacities as an IAS officer, including being the Assistant Secretary in the State Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Govt of India, SDM in Vijaypur tehsil of Sheopur district, CEO in Zilla Parishad in Harda district, Additional Mission Director at State Shiksha Kendra in Bhopal, Additional Collector in Badwani district, and as the Collector of Sheopur district. Recently, in the month of October 2024, he was transferred to the post of Collector of Niwari district.
Social Welfare – An Approach Close to His Heart
Something that has made IAS Lokesh Kumar Jangid stand out from the crowd and has made him popular and highly followed amongst common public is his social welfare policies and approach to innovative administrative policies. When serving as the Additional Collector in Badwani district, he was appointed as the Nodal Officer for Corona control. There he made key decisions and was instrumental in converting private hospitals and government medical facilities into Covid centre with precision and promptness that helped save the lives of many. It was his initiative of free treatments under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana that that Badwani was one of the earliest districts in the Madhya Pradesh to report sharp decline in Covid cases during that time, down from 40% to 0.5%.
IAS Lokesh Jangid - Earning Accolades and Awards for His Visionary Approach and Admin Works
When IAS Lokesh Jangid was the Assistant Collector of Sehore district, he was appaled to see the education and health facilities accessible to the Saharia tribe. There, he laid the foundation of a new program ‘Padho Vijaypur’ to improve the educational facilities for the tribal people of the region. The program was so popular that even the Madhya Pradesh Government later extended that program across the state named as ‘'Dakshata Unnayan’.
Not only this, but he has also been the face behind several other successful projects, one of which is related to water conservation under NREGA in the Harda district. In the same region, he was instrumental in making the Swachh Bharat Mission successful, for which was also awarded by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
Averse to the Death Threats – Continuing His Service Despite Negative Social Elements
Right from the day he joined Civil Services, IAS Lokesh Kumar Jangid had one mission and that too to serve the nation with full honesty, integrity and dedication. In 2021, LOkesh Jangid had vented his frustration against the system for the gross corruption and connection of some political and bureaucrats with the mafia world. This has led him to receive death threats, for which he also filed complaint with the police.
However, these threats never worried and stopped IAS Lokesh Jangid to work for the welfare of the society and people, and work with full honesty.
Offering Key Advices and Guidance to Young Generation
IAS Lokesh Jangid, has time and again offered key advice and guidance to young generation on the values of education, social work and how they can serve the nation in a number of ways. Not only for Civil Service aspirants, but for all, to lead to fruitful and meaningful life, Lokesh Jangid writes and shares his views on various platforms across a number of things. He has always stressed on the importance of leading a healthy life, having a proper routine and being true to oneself and not give up.
It’s a Success Story of an IAS that Motivates the IAS Aspirants
IAS Lokesh Jangid follows a mantra – ‘Never Settle for Less’. He has followed this mantra all his life, and recommends everyone, especially the youth of the nation, to never stop in their endeavours and try working harder to achieve their dreams. Not just that, but he emphasis that it’s everyone’s duty, in their own way, to contribute to the betterment of society, each day.
