🌟 Introduction
Srijana Gummalla is a distinguished 2013-batch IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer hailing from Andhra Pradesh. Daughter of senior IPS officer G. Balaramaiah, Srijana has earned widespread admiration for her unwavering dedication to public service—particularly during the COVID‑19 crisis—choosing duty over maternity leave. A committed administrator, she brings a blend of academic excellence, empathy, and action-oriented leadership to every post.
Early Life & Education
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Family background: Born into a civil service family, with her father G. Balaramaiah as an influential role model. (indianmasterminds.com)
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Education:
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Bachelor’s in Psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad
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Master’s in Political Science, securing gold at Uppsala University, Sweden (indianmasterminds.com)
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Ph.D. in Political Science from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati (newindianexpress.com)
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Civil services journey: Initially cleared APPSC Group-I and worked in state health administration in 2012. Later appeared in UPSC and secured an impressive 44th rank in 2013. (newindianexpress.com)
Career Progression
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Early postings:
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Administrative Officer in Telangana’s Health & Family Welfare Department
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Education Management Consultant at Dr. Reddy’s Foundation—focused on improving learning outcomes
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IAS cadre:
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Joined the 2013 IAS batch
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Served across multiple administrative roles in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
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Commissioner, GVMC, Visakhapatnam:
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Held the significant urban governance portfolio as GVMC Commissioner
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Rejoined duty just 22 days after childbirth in April 2020 amid the COVID‑19 pandemic (x.com, indianmasterminds.com, karunanews.org)
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Heroics During COVID‑19
In April 2020, amid a nationwide lockdown:
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Chose to cut short her maternity leave and began managing pandemic response only 22 days post-delivery, often seen working with her newborn in her arms. (facebook.com)
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Visakhapatnam saw her as a frontline leader, touching public hearts with her act of balancing motherhood and civic responsibility.
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Garnered nationwide recognition, including praise from Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and BJP leader B.L. Santhosh. (indianmasterminds.com, ndtv.com)
Recent Assignments & Developments
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2024–2025: Appointed District Collector of NTR District, Andhra Pradesh. Her decisive leadership—covered in the linked video—was praised widely.
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Social media: Maintains an official Twitter (X) presence, sharing administrative updates; she states her views are personal. (youtube.com)
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Ongoing initiatives: Leading development projects in agriculture, rural empowerment, and urban infrastructure.
Controversies & Criticism
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No notable controversies: Per available credible sources, Srijana Gummalla has largely remained free from scandals or public criticism.
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Public perception: Her prompt rejoining of duty raised some questions—whether state machinery was overburdened. But the overall response was overwhelmingly laudatory.
Media & Public Image
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Featured widely in national media such as NDTV and Indian Masterminds as a model civil servant. (ndtv.com, indianmasterminds.com)
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Her act of governance-through-motherhood has been used as a case study in civil service motivation and gender empowerment.
Legacy, Impact & Leadership Style
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Empathy-driven governance: Balances technical administration with public well-being.
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Work-life frontiers: Became a living example of modern bureaucratic leadership—managing duty without pausing motherhood.
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Mentorship: Actively guides junior officers, especially women, encouraging them to break professional and familial dualities.
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Capacity-building: Under her stewardship, Visakhapatnam invested in health, sanitation, education, and civic readiness.
🔍 Top Interesting Facts
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Civil service heritage: Follows in footsteps of her father, IPS officer G. Balaramaiah.
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UPSC rank: Achieved an impressive 44th rank in the 2013 Civil Services Examination. (ndtv.com, indianmasterminds.com, newindianexpress.com)
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International scholar: Gold medallist from Uppsala University, Sweden. (indianmasterminds.com)
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Pandemic warrior: Resumed work with her 22‑day‑old baby, epitomizing service above self. (karunanews.org)
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Digital presence: Shares updates and civic information via her X (Twitter) account. (x.com)
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Early stage leadership: As NTR District Collector in 2024, made impactful decisions from her first day.
❓ FAQs
Q1: What batch is Srijana Gummalla from?
A1: She is from the 2013 batch of IAS.
Q2: What rank did she secure in UPSC?
A2: She ranked 44th in the UPSC 2013 exam. (youtube.com, newindianexpress.com)
Q3: Is she the daughter of an IAS officer?
A3: Her father, G. Balaramaiah, is a senior IPS officer.
Q4: Did she really return to work with her toddler?
A4: Yes. In April 2020, she rejoined GVMC just 22 days after childbirth—often with her infant in her arms. (indianmasterminds.com, karunanews.org)
Q5: What was her academic journey?
A5: She holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Political Science (gold medallist, Uppsala University), and a PhD in Political Science from Sri Venkateswara University. (newindianexpress.com)
Q6: Any controversies?
A6: No significant controversies have been reported in credible sources.
✍️ Conclusion
Srijana Gummalla is a beacon of modern Indian bureaucracy—blending empathy with capability, courage with care. From excelling academically to steering COVID relief efforts holding her newborn, she has set a powerful precedent. As District Collector of NTR District, her leadership continues to foster growth and inspire women across administrative services.
Her story exemplifies the blending of personal and professional roles, urging a new generation of civil servants toward compassionate yet results-oriented governance.
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