Who Is Rakesh Verma? Former UP IAS Officer Takes VRS, Joins Congress Ahead of Assembly Polls
Former Indian Administrative Service officer Dr Rakesh Verma has made a significant shift from bureaucracy to active politics after taking Voluntary Retirement from Service and joining the Indian National Congress in Lucknow.The 2013-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre formally entered the party on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, adding an experienced former bureaucrat, writer and social activist to the Congress ranks ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Verma joined the Congress at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Lucknow in the presence of state party president Ajay Rai. During the joining programme, he spoke about his faith in constitutional values, democracy and the need for people in public life to perform the responsibilities assigned to them. He also said that his interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had influenced his decision to enter politics.
The former IAS officer was formally inducted as a primary member of the party by Nitin Sharma, the state-level in-charge responsible for new joinings. South Indian actress Firdous Bano, also known as Zara Khan, joined the Congress during the same programme. Their induction comes at a politically significant time in Uttar Pradesh, where preparations and political activity are gathering momentum ahead of the Assembly polls.
Rakesh Verma Says Public Officials and Politicians Have Defined Roles
After joining the Congress, Verma made it clear that he wants to remain focused on public work. Drawing on his experience as a civil servant, he argued that politicians and government officials have different but clearly defined responsibilities, and both should concentrate on discharging their respective duties effectively.
He also put considerable emphasis on education. According to Verma, greater attention needs to be given to educating people if the country is to address its larger social and political challenges. His remarks reflected themes that have featured prominently in his public life, particularly his interest in education, leadership, social development and public policy.
Verma also voiced concern over what he described as increasing involvement of government officials in matters beyond their actual responsibilities. He said he believed that the country and the state were being governed by people whom he felt did not have sufficient faith in democracy and the Constitution.
For Verma, constitutional principles appear to be at the heart of his political decision. He said governance should remain firmly rooted in the Constitution and explained that he regarded the Congress as a party committed to those values.
“I have come here to work. Good work needs to be done; both politicians and officials must fulfil their respective responsibilities,” Verma said after joining the party.
Rahul Gandhi’s Influence Behind His Political Entry
Verma also spoke about his interaction with Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and described the meeting as an important source of inspiration. His comments suggest that the decision to move from public administration into politics was influenced by his assessment of the Congress leadership and its political positioning.
He also referred to the political struggles of Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai. Verma said Rai’s journey and his own interaction with Rahul Gandhi played a role in his decision to join the party.
“I was inspired after meeting Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. I am joining the Congress party because I am impressed by the struggles of state president Ajay Rai, and because the Congress is a truly good party today,” he said.
The entry of a former IAS officer with administrative experience into the Congress is notable in itself. Former civil servants have often moved into electoral politics after leaving government service, bringing with them experience of governance, policymaking and the functioning of the state machinery.
Ajay Rai Welcomes Former IAS Officer
Ajay Rai welcomed Verma and the other new entrants into the Congress by placing Tricolour scarves around their necks. While introducing Verma to the party organisation, Rai highlighted his background in social work and his association with children with disabilities.
According to Rai, Verma is currently caring for 85 children with disabilities. The state Congress chief described his work as an example of compassion and social commitment, suggesting that Verma’s public-service journey did not end with his departure from the IAS.
Rai also said that the induction of Verma and Firdous Bano would strengthen the Congress organisation in Uttar Pradesh. He added that both new members had expressed their willingness to work actively within the party structure rather than merely remain associated with it in a symbolic capacity.
The joining programme also witnessed the induction of several people from Lucknow into the Congress. They joined under the leadership of Narendra Gautam, who previously contested the Lok Sabha election as the Congress candidate from Mohanlalganj.
Who Is Dr Rakesh Verma?
Dr Rakesh Verma is a former 2013-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre whose professional journey has extended well beyond conventional government administration. After taking VRS, he increasingly devoted his time to writing, social work, leadership development and other areas of public engagement.
In some references, his name is also written as Rakesh Varma. His profile combines administrative experience with academic interests, literary work and social activism, giving him a background that is somewhat different from the conventional political entrant.
Verma has developed interests in public policy, leadership training, entrepreneurship, social inclusion and education. He is also known for his literary pursuits and writes poetry and Urdu ghazals under the pen name Rakesh ‘Rahi’.
That literary side has remained an important part of his identity. His transition from a senior government career into writing and social work eventually opened the way for another major shift, this time into active party politics.
Strong Academic Background
Verma’s academic record spans several disciplines. He is an alumnus of Lucknow University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science, followed by a Master of Arts in Anthropology and a Master of Business Administration.
He also holds a Ph.D. Available profiles have described his area of specialisation variously as sociology and urban governance. His academic journey therefore covers social sciences, management and areas closely connected with the challenges of public administration and urban development.
His exposure to public policy also extends beyond India. Verma completed a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
The combination of public administration, management, social sciences and public policy has shaped much of his professional profile. It has also contributed to his work in leadership training and capacity building, areas in which he has developed considerable expertise over the years.
IAS Career Across Uttar Pradesh and the Centre
During his career in the Indian Administrative Service, Verma served in different capacities in both the Uttar Pradesh government and the Central Government. His professional experience was not limited to routine administrative assignments and included work connected with leadership development, training and public policy.
He has been recognised as a leadership expert and trainer and received the National Award for Excellence in Training. The recognition reflected his contribution to training and professional development within the public administration ecosystem.
Verma has also served as guest faculty at prominent training institutions. In that capacity, he shared his experience of administration, leadership and public policy with government officers and other trainees.
That combination of field administration and training experience gave him an opportunity to work not only on government programmes and policies but also on the development of officials who would later take up important administrative responsibilities.
Why Did Rakesh Verma Take VRS?
Verma’s decision to take Voluntary Retirement from Service eventually became an important turning point in his professional life. His departure from government allowed him to devote greater attention to interests that had developed alongside his administrative career, including literature, social work, leadership and public engagement.
His post-IAS life was not simply a move away from public activity. Instead, it saw him become more deeply involved in writing and social initiatives, including his association with children with disabilities.
His literary identity also became more visible during this period. Under the name Rakesh ‘Rahi’, he has written poetry and Urdu ghazals, adding another dimension to a career that had already covered administration, training and public policy.
Now, with his formal entry into the Congress, Verma has taken another step into public life. The move transforms his role from former civil servant and social activist to an active political worker at a time when Uttar Pradesh is moving towards another closely watched Assembly election.
His journey from the IAS to literature and social activism, and now to party politics, makes Rakesh Verma a noteworthy new entrant in the state’s political landscape. Whether his administrative experience, academic background and social work translate into a larger political role remains to be seen, but his Congress entry has already placed his career transition firmly in the spotlight.
