In a landmark development, IAS officer Ms. Sonika Singh has been appointed Mela Adhikari (Mela Officer) for the Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2027, becoming the first woman to head one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. A 2010-batch officer from the Uttarakhand cadre, her appointment is being hailed as a historic step toward inclusive leadership and gender parity in high-level administration.
Currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Civil Aviation Department, Ms. Singh has already assumed charge at the Mela Control Office in Haridwar and begun consultations with various stakeholders. Her immediate priorities include crowd management, transport planning, sanitation, and inter-agency coordination — all vital for the smooth execution of the mega event.
2027: A Grand ‘Kumbh’, Beyond the Traditional ‘Ardh’
Although technically an Ardh Kumbh, held every six years, the Uttarakhand government has decided to brand the 2027 event as a full-fledged Kumbh Mela, significantly scaling up its ambition and global appeal. By removing the “Ardh” prefix, officials aim to enhance participation, tourism, and investment.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami underscored the importance of capable and inclusive leadership. “This isn’t about comparison — it’s about capability. Ms. Sonika Singh’s appointment reflects both vision and trust. Women have always played a crucial role in Uttarakhand’s progress,” he said. He also assured that all shortcomings from the 2021 Kumbh, held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, would be rectified through meticulous planning.
Profile: Who is Sonika Singh?
An alumnus of IIT and a former DRDO scientist, Ms. Singh joined the civil services in 2010 and has held several impactful administrative positions:
District Magistrate, Dehradun (2022) — Also served as CEO of the Smart City Project
Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister (2021) — Oversaw portfolios like Tourism, Religious Affairs, and Health
CEO, UCADA and Additional Secretary, Co-operative Department
Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) — Known for her strategic leadership
Respected for her calm demeanor, problem-solving acumen, and people-centric governance, she is widely considered one of Uttarakhand’s most promising officers.
Breaking a Tradition: First Woman Mela Adhikari
Since 1986, the Haridwar Kumbh has traditionally been led by male IAS officers, including:
Arun Kumar Mishra (1986)
Rajeev Gupta (1992)
Fateh Bahadur Singh (1998)
Anand Vardhan (2010)
Deepak Rawat (2021)
Ms. Singh’s appointment breaks a 40-year gender barrier, ushering in a new era of leadership and vision. Her tenure, starting well in advance, is expected to provide much-needed continuity — a factor often missing due to late postings in previous editions.
Kumbh 2027: Vision and Challenges
The scale of the Kumbh Mela is colossal. A temporary city must be built — complete with roads, sanitation systems, power supply, health infrastructure, law enforcement, and real-time command centers. The government has outlined a vision focused on:
Environmental sustainability
Smart digital infrastructure
Advanced disaster response planning
Synergized coordination across civic, religious, and police departments
Ms. Singh’s leadership will be pivotal in integrating tradition with innovation. Her inclusive approach and strategic depth are expected to make Kumbh 2027 not just a spiritual milestone, but also a benchmark in large-scale event governance.
As millions of pilgrims prepare to descend on Haridwar in 2027, IAS Sonika Singh’s pioneering role will stand as a symbol of transformation — blending spiritual heritage with a modern administrative ethos.
