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Key points
Durga ShaktinNagpal is the epitome of woman power of India. It is rare that you will find anperson justifying his/her name so closely. She is an IAS officer of UttarnPradesh Cadre. She was in limelight in 2013 when she had launched a massive administrativenaction against rampant corruption and illegal sand mining in Gautam Buddh Nagarn– NOIDA. Her action had created a sort of terror among corrupt politicians ofnUttar Pradesh and hence the Government had suspended her for demolishing the outernwall of an illegal mosque. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that thensuspension was on flimsy ground and the real motive was the undo the damagendone by her to the corrupt system. After a huge public uproar, Akhilesh Yadav, the then CM, had to revoke her suspension few months later.
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nProfile of DurganShakti Nagpal
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nDurga was bornnon 25th June, 1985 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Her family is basicallynfrom Raipur, Chhatisgarh. Her father was a government servant and had won manynmedals from Rajasthan and Delhi Government for distinguished services. Her grandfathernwas a police officer who was killed on duty in 1954 in Delhi. Honesty andndedication to the assigned job runs into her blood.
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nDurga has been anbrilliant student from schooling days. After completing schooling education,nshe prepared for IIT JEE entrance examination, but couldn’t crack it. Shenjoined Indira Gandhi Technological University in Delhi and completed B. Technwith Computer Science in 2007. She got a job offer from an IT Consultancyncompany, but decided to stay back in Delhi and prepare for Civil Services. Shenappeared in the UPSC Civil Services in 2008 and cracked it. Unfortunately, becausenof low rank she could get IRS, her third preference of services. She againnappeared in the next year and cracked UPSC Civil Services with All India Ranknof 20. She easily got IAS and was allotted Punjab Cadre.
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nHer firstnposting was in Mohali on probation – a part of IAS training. During this phasenalso, Durga had shown courage and unearthed a huge land scam. She was here fornfourteen months and people still remember her for some of the life changingnactions she took.
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nShe marriednAbhishek Singh, an IAS officer of UP cadre, and requested for change in the cadrenowing to marriage. The Government allows and hence she was given UP cadre. Innher second posting as an SDM at Gautam Buddh Nagar she showed the world what annIndian woman can do.
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nHusband of DurganShakti Nagpal
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nAs mentionednabove, Durga is married to Abhishek Singh who is also an IAS officer. Abhisheknand Durga met while preparing for Civil Services in Delhi. Abhishek took threenmore years to crack Civil Services. They got married after Abhishek completednhis IAS training.
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nIt should bennoted that Akhilesh Yadav Government had also targeted Abhishek Singh to teachnDurga a lesson. He was also suspended on a flimsy ground where he was accusednof inhuman treatment to a dalit teacher. The government could never saynpublicly about the inhuman treatment. In fact, entire drama was scripted tonconvey a message to Durga that she should remain under the limit imposed by thencorrupt political and business system of Uttar Pradesh.
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nCurrent Postingnof Durga Shakti Nagpal
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nDurga isncurrently the DM of Banda.
She had worked as an Officer on Special Duty in the Union AgriculturenMinistry. The Ministry led by BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh decided to relaxnsome rules to let her work on this crucial assignment. She has been appointednin the Union Agriculture Ministry in January. 2015, and since then she is workingnthere.
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