Success Story: IAS Rinkoo Singh Rahee Cleared UPSC In 17th Attempt, Now Appointed Joint Magistrate Of Jalaun

The life of Rinkoo Singh Rahee, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is almost cinematic. Gunfire, an unrelenting fight against corruption, deep scars on his face, and a head-on clash with the system – Rahee has endured enough to crush any ordinary person. He recently came into the national spotlight by resigning from his post, raising the slogan “No work, no pay.” He argued that giving an honest officer a salary while keeping him without work is the system’s harshest punishment.

The government has now accepted his demands and appointed him as the Joint Magistrate of Jalaun. Rinkoo Singh Rahee stands as a symbol of unshakeable resolve, achieving the IAS rank after 16 attempts. His journey from becoming a PCS officer in 2004 to

finally joining the IAS in 2023 is a long tale of struggle. Even after being shot 7 times in a deadly attack in Muzaffarnagar, he did not allow his voice against corruption to be stifled. His new role in Jalaun, his second innings, has raised hopes for a better alignment between governance and administration.

Late last night, a total of 38 IAS officers were transferred in Uttar Pradesh, and among them was Singh. Here is an overview of his journey so far.

The story of IAS officer Singh’s integrity begins in 2009. While serving as the District Social Welfare Officer in Muzaffarnagar, he unearthed a scam worth crores of rupees in scholarship and pension schemes. Infuriated by this, the mafia attacked him and shot him 7 times. Two bullets hit his face, causing him to lose vision in one eye and completely dislocating his jaw. After months in hospital and several surgeries, he finally recovered.

IAS officer Rinkoo Singh Rahee never surrendered. While serving as a PCS officer in Uttar Pradesh, he nurtured the dream of becoming an IAS officer. In 2021, he secured the 683rd rank but was not allotted any service. He appeared again in 2022 and became an IAS officer with the 921st rank. Interestingly, he received very low marks (110 and 105) in both UPSC interviews, but his strong performance in the Mains examination carried him to his goal.

After completing his IAS training, in 2025 he was posted as SDM of Puwaiyan in Shahjahanpur, where an unusual controversy arose. Lawyers created an uproar after a clerk was made to do sit-ups as punishment for littering. Instead of retreating, Rahee went among the lawyers and did sit-ups himself, holding his ears, to convey that rules and punishments apply equally to everyone. Following this incident, he was attached to the Lucknow Revenue Council.

Rahee was deeply pained by being kept without work at the Lucknow Revenue Council. He submitted his resignation to the President on March 26, 2026. In his letter, he clearly stated that he was being denied the chance to work and that he did not wish to accept a salary without doing any work. He even requested to be reinstated to his earlier post of “Social Welfare Officer” in the PCS cadre, so that he could serve the public directly.

After a prolonged tussle with the government and the withdrawal of his resignation, Rinkoo Singh Rahee has now been appointed Joint Magistrate of Jalaun. The news of his resignation caused a stir in the administration, after which the government decided to make proper use of his abilities. His new posting is being viewed as a triumph of his honesty.