Mullai Muhilan is a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre who secured All India Rank 46 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2012. Since 17 June 2025, he has been serving as Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps in Bengaluru, heading Karnataka’s Department of Stamps and Registration.
Before taking up this role, Mullai Muhilan served for two years as Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada in Mangaluru, where he became known among students for declaring holidays during heavy rain. Earlier, he was the DC of Uttara Kannada in Karwar.
On 30 April 2026, he also launched Karnataka’s first fully paperless property registration pilot at the Chamarajanagar Sub-Registrar’s Office.
Mullai Muhilan IAS: Quick Facts
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mullai Muhilan |
| Name in Official Records | Mullai Muhilan M P |
| Profession | Civil Servant |
| Service | Indian Administrative Service (IAS) |
| Batch | 2013 |
| Cadre | Karnataka |
| Home State | Tamil Nadu |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 46 (CSE 2012) |
| Date of Birth | 4 August 1986 |
| Age | 40 years (as of September 2026) |
| Education | Engineering degree in Computer Science, PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul (Anna University) |
| Current Posting | Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, Bengaluru |
| Posting Date | 17 June 2025 |
| Pay Level | Level 13 |
| Retirement Date | 31 August 2046 |
| Training Academy | LBSNAA Mussoorie |
Mullai Muhilan IAS: Early Life and Education
Mullai Muhilan was born on 4 August 1986 and is 40 years old in 2026. In a January 2024 interview with Daijiworld, he said his interest in the IAS grew from conversations with his father during his childhood about the role of an administrator in society.
Muhilan studied computer science engineering at PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul, an Anna University college. His Executive Record Sheet records that he passed in the first division. He has also spoken about his earlier work as an engineer when discussing the difference between that salary and his government pay.
After completing his degree, Muhilan moved to Delhi to prepare for the civil services. He later recalled that the beginning was difficult, saying, “I travelled to Delhi without knowing the language.”
Mullai Muhilan IAS: UPSC Journey
Mullai Muhilan secured All India Rank 46 in the Civil Services Examination 2012, for which UPSC declared the final result in May 2013. His rank led to his selection for the IAS as part of the 2013 batch.
It was his third attempt at the examination. UPSC’s final list for the 2010 examination placed him at rank 465, while Daijiworld reported that his first attempt resulted in a place in the Indian Revenue Service. The same report said his second attempt also resulted in a low score. He eventually cleared the third attempt after focusing more closely on question patterns and what examiners expected in answers.
UPSC’s marks list for the 2012 examination records these scores:
| Written Total (out of 2,000) | Interview (out of 300) | Final Total (out of 2,300) |
|---|---|---|
| 857 | 192 | 1,049 |
In January 2024, while speaking to civil services aspirants, Muhilan emphasized the importance of reading newspapers regularly to stay updated on current affairs. He also advised candidates to maintain a backup plan, try to clear the exam within one or two attempts, and focus more on taking action than on collecting advice.
Mullai Muhilan IAS: Career and Postings
Mullai Muhilan’s first field posting was as Assistant Commissioner in Jamkhandi, Bagalkot district. He later described the area as one where floods could affect one location while nearby villages faced drought. He later served in urban administration in Belagavi and Shivamogga before taking charge as CEO of Ramanagara Zilla Panchayat.
On 15 February 2021, Muhilan became Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada in Karwar. He joined during the Covid-19 period and said a significant part of his work focused on strengthening the district’s hospital infrastructure. After his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, covered below, he moved to the post of Inspector General of Registration in June 2025. At the Chamarajanagar pilot launched on 30 April 2026, he said the Aadhaar-based Kaveri 2.0 system uses digital signatures and audit trails to help prevent fake documents, with plans to expand the system to other districts in phases.
| Period | Position |
|---|---|
| Sep 2013 to Aug 2015 | IAS Officer Trainee, LBSNAA Mussoorie |
| Aug 2015 to Nov 2015 | Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India |
| Early Career | Assistant Commissioner, Jamkhandi, Bagalkot District |
| Oct 2016 to Apr 2017 | Managing Director, Belagavi Smart City |
| Apr 2017 | Commissioner, Shivamogga City Corporation; MD, Shivamogga Smart City |
| Apr 2018 | CEO, Zilla Panchayat, Ramanagara |
| Aug 2019 to Feb 2021 | Deputy Secretary, DPAR (Services), Bengaluru |
| Feb 2021 to Oct 2022 | Deputy Commissioner, Uttara Kannada, Karwar |
| Oct 2022 | Commissioner, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, Bengaluru |
| Until Jun 2023 | Executive Director, Centre for Smart Governance, Bengaluru |
| Jun 2023 to Jun 2025 | Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, Mangaluru |
| Jun 2025 to Present | Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, Bengaluru |
Mullai Muhilan IAS as DC Mangaluru (2023 to 2025)
Mullai Muhilan took charge as the 132nd Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada on 17 June 2023, taking over from Ravi Kumar M R a day after the state’s transfer order. His two-year tenure is a major reason he is still searched for as “DC Mangalore.”
In Mangaluru, his decisions on rain holidays made him especially familiar to students. Daijiworld reported that schoolchildren called him the “Chutti DC” because of the holidays he announced during heavy monsoon rain. He later said that he would often stay awake from 11 pm to 5 am, collecting feedback on conditions before making a decision, with children’s safety as the main consideration. After his transfer, Citizen News Puttur reported that students were asking on social media whether the holidays would continue under his successor.
As DC, Muhilan oversaw the final stage of Praja Soudha, the new district office complex at Padil. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the ₹75 crore building on 16 May 2025. Muhilan had said the complex would accommodate nearly 30 government departments along with the DC’s office, and he became the first Deputy Commissioner to work there. In his farewell remarks, he highlighted the Karavali Utsava, a new swimming pool, the resolution of plotting issues and Smart City healthcare projects among the work he considered important.
Outside his official work, Muhilan spoke about stand-up surfing at Sasihithlu beach and said golibaje was his favourite local dish.
On 17 June 2025, exactly two years after he took charge, the state government transferred him and appointed Darshan H V (2016 batch) as the new DC. Asianet Newsable linked the reshuffle to criticism over communal tensions in the coastal belt, which had earlier resulted in a change of the district’s Superintendent of Police. Daijiworld and other local outlets described the transfer as the end of his two-year tenure.
Mullai Muhilan IAS Salary in 2026
Mullai Muhilan is at Pay Level 13 of the IAS pay matrix, as per the civil list, where basic pay starts at ₹1,23,100 a month before allowances. For the current DA rate and a full breakdown of IAS pay at every level, see our IAS salary guide.
| Pay Level | Basic Pay (start of level) | DA Approximate | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | ₹73,860 (60%) | ₹1,96,960 |
Mullai Muhilan IAS: Wife and Family
Mullai Muhilan has credited his father with encouraging his interest in public service through conversations they had when he was young. The names and occupations of his parents have not been publicly disclosed.
No verified information about his wife or marriage appears in official records or major news reports. Information about his immediate family life has also not been widely reported.
FAQs
What is the present posting of Mullai Muhilan IAS?
Mullai Muhilan currently serves as the Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, Karnataka, in Bengaluru. He has held the position since 17 June 2025, following his transfer from Dakshina Kannada.
When was Mullai Muhilan DC of Mangalore?
Mullai Muhilan was Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, headquartered in Mangaluru, from 17 June 2023 to 17 June 2025. Darshan H V succeeded him.
What was Mullai Muhilan’s UPSC rank?
Mullai Muhilan secured All India Rank 46 in the Civil Services Examination 2012, with a final score of 1,049 marks. It was his third attempt; UPSC’s 2010 list shows him at rank 465.
Who is Mullai Muhilan’s wife?
No verified details about Mullai Muhilan’s wife or marriage have been published in official records or major news reports. Publicly available information mainly covers his career and his father’s early influence.
Why is Mullai Muhilan called the Chutti DC?
Schoolchildren in Dakshina Kannada gave him the nickname because of the rain holidays he declared during the monsoon, as Daijiworld reported in June 2025. He said he often reviewed conditions overnight, from 11 pm to 5 am, before making a decision.
Where is Mullai Muhilan from?
Mullai Muhilan is from Tamil Nadu and belongs to the Karnataka cadre. He studied computer science engineering at PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul.
