Anu Kumari IAS is a 2018-batch officer of the Kerala cadre. She secured All India Rank 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017, finishing first among women that year. Before joining the civil services, she spent nearly nine years in the private sector.
Anu Kumari IAS Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anu Kumari |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service |
| Batch | 2018 |
| Cadre | Kerala |
| Home District | Sonipat, Haryana |
| Date of Birth | 18 November 1986 |
| Age | 39 years as of 25 October 2026 |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 2, Civil Services Examination 2017 |
| Successful Attempt | Second |
| Optional Subject | Sociology |
| Graduation | B.Sc. (Hons) Physics, Hindu College, Delhi University |
| Postgraduation | MBA in Finance and Marketing, IMT Nagpur |
| Husband | Varun Dahiya |
| Children | One son |
| Current Posting | Special Commissioner, State GST, Kerala |
| Previous Posting | District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Training Academy | LBSNAA, Mussoorie |
Anu Kumari IAS Current Posting
Anu Kumari currently serves as Special Commissioner, State GST, Kerala. The government announced her transfer in September 2026, but the move was delayed following the State Election Commission’s intervention over a local by-election.
She continued as Thiruvananthapuram Collector until Anju K S took charge on 1 October 2026.
Age, Early Life and Education
Anu Kumari was born on 18 November 1986 and is 39 years old as of October 2026. She grew up in Sonipat, Haryana. Her father, Baljit Singh, worked in the HR department of a hospital.
She graduated from Hindu College, Delhi University, with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics in 2006. She then completed her management studies at IMT Nagpur, specialising in Finance and Marketing.
Her first job after management studies was with ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund in Mumbai. She later moved to Gurugram and continued working in the private sector before leaving her job to prepare for UPSC.
UPSC Rank and Preparation
Anu Kumari secured AIR 2 in the Civil Services Examination 2017 on her second attempt, with Sociology as her optional subject. Shruti Sharma IAS also cleared the examination on her second attempt, securing AIR 1 in 2021.
Sociology was new to Anu. In her Drishti IAS interview, she explained that her brother had chosen it while filling out her first application. She found the subject interesting and decided to continue with it.
Her preparation centred on understanding concepts, revising a limited set of resources, following current affairs and practising answer writing. After her result, Haryana named her brand ambassador of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign in Sonipat.
Career and Postings
| Period | Posting or Assignment |
|---|---|
| Early career | Assistant Collector, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Subsequent posting | Sub Collector, Thalassery |
| 2022 | District Development Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram |
| March 2023 | While serving as Mission Director, MGNREGS, received full additional charge as Director, Kerala State IT Mission |
| By July 2024 | Serving as Director, Kerala State IT Mission |
| July 2024 to October 2026 | District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram |
| October 2026 onwards | Special Commissioner, State GST, Kerala |
The March 2023 appointment gave her responsibility for the IT Mission alongside her MGNREGS role. She was serving as IT Mission Director when she moved to the collectorate in July 2024.
An officer’s monthly pay depends on the applicable pay level, allowances and deductions. Our guide to the IAS salary structure explains these components and how they affect take-home pay.
Husband and Family
Anu Kumari is married to Varun Dahiya, a Delhi-based businessman. The couple has a son.
During her preparation, she stayed at her aunt’s home while her mother looked after her young son. Her family supported the arrangement, though she has spoken about how difficult it was to spend long periods away from him.
Work as Thiruvananthapuram Collector
Anu Kumari succeeded Geromic George in July 2024. She also chaired the monitoring committee responsible for addressing rehabilitation issues connected to the Vizhinjam Port project.
During her tenure, the district continued the Collector’s Super 100 programme, which supports girls from disadvantaged backgrounds with science and mathematics learning and entrance-exam preparation. The programme began under her predecessor in 2023. In 2025, she announced plans to extend it to students from Scheduled Caste and economically weaker backgrounds.
Other district initiatives included Project X, a school programme covering age-appropriate sexuality education, legal awareness and psychological support. The administration also undertook groundwater recharge work through Jalasree.
Ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, she appeared with Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar in a music video encouraging young people to vote. Built around the message “We vote, we decide,” the campaign used music to reach first-time voters.
FAQs
What is Anu Kumari IAS’s age?
She is 39 years old as of October 2026. Her date of birth is 18 November 1986.
Who is Anu Kumari IAS’s husband?
Her husband is Varun Dahiya, a Delhi-based businessman.
What is Anu Kumari IAS’s current posting?
She serves as Special Commissioner, State GST, Kerala, following her move from the Thiruvananthapuram collectorate in October 2026.
What was Anu Kumari’s UPSC rank?
She secured All India Rank 2 in the Civil Services Examination 2017.
Which batch and cadre does Anu Kumari belong to?
She belongs to the 2018 IAS batch and the Kerala cadre. The year 2017 refers to the examination she cleared.
