I still remember the jittery Saturday afternoon of 12 September 2020, when we were set to launch our new initiative – Bureaucrats India, a digital magazine. In what was one of our very first webinars, I found myself hosting a discussion on Bureaucracy, Good Governance & Atma Nirbhar Bharat, with distinguished panellists such as Dr Jayadev Sarangi, IAS (retd). Zoom was still new to most of us then, and like many, we had only recently learnt its value during the long months of the pandemic.
What began as a modest experiment has since turned into a passion. Five years on, the journey, though still unfolding, feels immensely gratifying and meaningful. Having worked as a journalist with The Indian Express, The Times of India and The Pioneer, I had come to realise that mainstream media carried inherent constraints. Too often, stories of good governance, reform and innovation in government and CPSEs were overlooked. The spotlight rested largely on politics, cinema, cricket, and the daily churn of mainstream culture. There were social and commercial reasons for this imbalance, but rather than dwell on those, I saw an opportunity.
The rise of digital platforms, and the democratisation of information through social media, made it possible for new voices to emerge and new stories to be told. Bureaucrats India was my attempt to fill that gap – to build a space that celebrates unsung heroes and heroines across government, CPSEs and corporate India, and to put in the public domain stories of good governance that inspire. At a time when negativity and disinformation had begun to dominate the digital landscape, we dared to claim that we would celebrate positivity. Sensationalism may sell in the short term, but the impact of positivity endures much longer.
#BIFactCheck ~ STOP MISINFORMATION
— Bureaucrats India (@BureaucratsInd) May 6, 2025
Provided below is a trending list of 244 districts where purportedly the civil defence #MockDrills will be conducted tomorrow (May 7).
THIS IS WRONG ❌
It's crucial to note that the list features Civil Defense districts categorized in… pic.twitter.com/RMGNM1rzuX
Over these five years, we have interacted with an extraordinary range of officers – from the IAS, IPS, IRS, IAAS, ICAS, ICLS and CSS – as well as CMDs and MDs of CPSEs, and corporate leaders. Our annual lists of changemakers have become a much-awaited feature, widely circulated across bureaucratic circles, celebrated on social media, and even picked up by mainstream publications. Our independent platforms – DCs of India and SPs of India – have further expanded this vision by recognising grassroots governance innovations and the work of India’s security forces.
#UPSCTales
— Bureaucrats India (@BureaucratsInd) April 24, 2025
Every UPSC season brings stories of grit that warm the heart. Meet Beerappa Siddappa Doni- a shepherd’s son from Amage village, Kolhapur, who cracked the civil services.
He was in the fields, tending sheep, when the news came - You’ve made it. AIR 551!
Today, his… pic.twitter.com/G97RBo12kj
Along the way, we have taken pride in amplifying ideas that define contemporary India – Make in India, Swachh Bharat Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. We have often drawn inspiration from the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and tried to reflect that in our stories and social media outreach. With over 200 leaders featured through stories, interviews and webinars, and an online reach that touches nearly 7–8 lakh people every month, we have in our small way contributed to nation building.
But anniversaries are also a moment for reflection. Sustaining a live platform like this has not been easy. Unlike many digital ventures, we have deliberately refrained from Google ads that clutter user experience. We have been fortunate to receive support from some CPSEs, but not enough to power long-term growth. As we look ahead, meaningful events aligned with our mission will be a logical next step. Passion has brought us here, but passion alone cannot fuel the journey ahead.
I therefore seek the guidance and support of all who believe in this endeavour. Advertising partnerships, content collaborations, or any other meaningful association – provided they do not compromise our values – would be welcome. We live in an era of noise, where quiet interventions often struggle to be heard. Yet to make even a tiny mark in such a world, on a subject divorced from sensationalism, is something we can take pride in.
I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, who have constantly pursued sanity in a world dazzled by glamour and glib talk, and to our readers, who have encouraged us to keep going. We dared to dream, started with crawls, learnt to walk, and have covered a good distance. Despite the challenges, we dare to sprint one day. With your continued love, blessings and support, we now set our sights on the long jump.
Please do send your ideas and suggestions, or simple affection to me on editor@bureaucratsindia.in
The writer is Editor-In-Chief of Bureaucrats India.
