Raksha Bandhan Special: IPS Aditya Mishra’s Journey Inspired Sister Pallavi Mishra to Crack UPSC and Join IAS
Raksha Bandhan is often about a simple thread, a promise and the bond between a brother and sister. But for IAS officer Pallavi Mishra and her elder brother, IPS officer Aditya Mishra, the sibling relationship has also played a role in shaping their professional journeys, with both eventually finding their place in India’s prestigious All India Services.
Pallavi Mishra is a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre and is currently serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) in Amritsar. Her elder brother Aditya Mishra is a 2018-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, and his experience in the civil services reportedly became an important source of guidance and inspiration for Pallavi as she prepared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Pallavi Mishra Secured AIR 73 in UPSC CSE 2022
Pallavi Mishra’s entry into the IAS came after an impressive performance in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022. She secured All India Rank 73 in the final examination, earning allocation to the Indian Administrative Service.
Her academic background was somewhat different from the conventional path often associated with civil services aspirants. Pallavi studied law at the National Law University, Delhi, and also pursued a master’s degree in music, according to the profile shared about her journey.
That combination of law, music and civil services preparation eventually led her to the IAS. Behind the scenes, however, her elder brother’s own experience in public service reportedly gave her an additional source of perspective while she was preparing for one of India’s toughest competitive examinations.
Elder Brother Aditya Mishra Became an Inspiration
Aditya Mishra joined the Indian Police Service earlier, belonging to the 2018 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. His career gave Pallavi a close look at what life in the All India Services could actually involve beyond the examination hall and interview room.
Aditya has served as Superintendent of Police in Balaghat, a district where policing comes with its own set of complex challenges, including issues linked to Left-Wing Extremism. His work has included anti-Naxal operations, giving him firsthand experience of some of the more demanding aspects of police administration.
For Pallavi, watching her brother navigate the responsibilities of the IPS reportedly became a source of motivation during her own civil services preparation. Rather than simply being a successful senior sibling, Aditya became someone she could turn to for guidance as she worked towards her own goal.
From Law and Music to the IAS
Pallavi’s educational journey stands out because it brought together two very different fields. She studied law at National Law University, Delhi, while also pursuing higher studies in music.
Her decision to appear for the UPSC examination eventually took that diverse academic background into the world of public administration. The result came in 2023 when the final UPSC CSE 2022 rankings placed her at AIR 73, with the IAS as her allocated service.
The achievement marked the beginning of her career as an administrator. She subsequently entered the IAS as part of the 2023 batch.
Pallavi Initially Belonged to AGMUT Cadre
Pallavi Mishra’s initial cadre allocation was the AGMUT cadre, which covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and several Union Territories. Her cadre journey later took a significant turn after the Centre approved her inter-cadre transfer to Punjab.
The transfer was approved in April 2026 on marriage grounds. Following the cadre change, Pallavi was posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) in Amritsar in June 2026.
Her current assignment places her in one of Punjab’s prominent districts, where the ADC (General) has a wide range of administrative responsibilities and works closely with the district administration.
Aditya Mishra’s Journey in the IPS
While Pallavi entered the IAS in the 2023 batch, Aditya had already established himself in the police service several years earlier. A 2018-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, he has held important field responsibilities during his career.
His posting in Balaghat was particularly significant because of the district’s security challenges. His work there included policing responsibilities in an area affected by Left-Wing Extremism, as well as participation in anti-Naxal operations.
Aditya’s professional record also includes recognition during his training period. He received the Vice President of India’s Trophy for Exemplary Conduct and the Ministry of Home Affairs Trophy for the Best Essay on Communal Harmony and National Integration.
These distinctions added another dimension to a career that has combined field policing, internal security and public service.
Two Siblings, Two All India Services
The journeys of Pallavi and Aditya are different, but they eventually converged in the same broad world of public service. Pallavi chose the administrative side through the IAS, while Aditya took the policing route through the IPS.
Their careers also illustrate the different responsibilities handled by the two services. An IAS officer works across administration, development, public policy and implementation, while an IPS officer’s responsibilities centre heavily on policing, law and order, crime prevention and internal security.
In this family, those two worlds exist side by side. Aditya’s experience came first, while Pallavi later carved out her own path after securing a strong rank in the UPSC examination.
A Raksha Bandhan Without the Usual Rakhi Ritual
This year’s Raksha Bandhan has a particularly interesting twist for the siblings. Pallavi is scheduled to remain engaged with the state-level Rakkar Punnian Mela programme in Punjab on August 28.
Because of her official responsibilities, she is not expected to be able to meet her brother personally to tie a rakhi. That does not mean the tradition will be skipped.
Instead, according to the account of their journey, Pallavi plans to send the rakhi to Aditya through the postal service. It is a small detail, but one that neatly captures the reality of life in public service – official duties can sometimes take priority even on days that matter personally.
When a Sibling’s Career Opens a New Possibility
The story of Pallavi and Aditya is not simply about two officers from the same family. It is also about how exposure to public service can influence career choices within a family.
Aditya’s earlier entry into the IPS reportedly gave Pallavi a closer understanding of the civil services and helped guide her during her preparation. She then built her own success story by securing AIR 73 in UPSC CSE 2022 and entering the IAS.
Today, the brother and sister serve in different cadres and different services, but both remain connected by the same larger purpose – working in public administration and serving the country.
From Rakhi to Public Service
Raksha Bandhan traditionally celebrates the bond between siblings, but the story of Pallavi Mishra and Aditya Mishra adds a professional dimension to that relationship. One sibling’s experience in the IPS helped inspire the other to pursue the civil services, eventually leading her to the IAS.
Pallavi is now serving as ADC (General) in Amritsar, while Aditya continues his career as a senior field-oriented police officer in Madhya Pradesh. This Raksha Bandhan, even if the rakhi travels by post instead of being tied in person, the larger story remains the same – a brother’s journey helped inspire his sister, and she went on to create a civil services journey of her own.
