Just three years after joining India’s elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Ria Dabi has shattered a decade-old record—becoming the fastest-serving officer in Rajasthan’s history to reach the Senior Administrative Scale. The promotion, confirmed in September 2024 during a sweeping bureaucratic reshuffle led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s government, marks a seismic shift in how merit and performance are being recognized in India’s civil service. Her elder sister, Tina Dabi, the 2015 UPSC topper who waited nearly a decade for the same rank, now finds herself not just outpaced—but redefined by her younger sibling’s trajectory.
The Record That Changed Everything
When Ria Dabi, who cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2020 with an All India Rank of 16, was appointed to the IAS in 2021, few expected her to leapfrog the traditional eight-to-ten-year ladder. But in September 2024, she was formally elevated to the Senior Administrative Scale—three years and three months after her first posting. That’s not just fast. It’s unprecedented. For context, Tina Dabi, who topped the 2015 UPSC exam with Rank 1, spent 9 years and 4 months climbing to the same level. The gap? Over six years. In bureaucratic terms, that’s a lifetime.
The reshuffle, which affected 108 IAS officers across Rajasthan, wasn’t just routine. It was a statement. Official notifications show 98 transfer orders and 10 new assignments, mostly in the Industries Department. But the spotlight stayed fixed on the Dabi sisters. While Ria ascended, Tina—already serving as District Collector of Jaisalmer—was moved to Barmer in early 2024, then reassigned to Jaipur as Commissioner of the Employment Guarantee Scheme. The timing wasn’t coincidental. It was symbolic.
Two Sisters, Two Eras of Service
Tina Dabi, born November 9, 1993, in Bhopal, began her career in 2016 as an Assistant Collector in Ajmer. Her path was textbook: Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Bhilwara (2017–2019), Joint Secretary in Jaipur’s Finance Department (2020), District Collector of Jaisalmer (July 2022). She balanced motherhood after marrying fellow IAS officer Pradeep K. Gawande in April 2022 and giving birth to their son in September 2023—all while managing one of Rajasthan’s most arid districts.
Ria, inspired by her sister’s legacy, entered the service in 2021 with the same drive but a different environment. The bureaucracy had changed. Digital governance, performance dashboards, and citizen feedback systems were now standard. Ria didn’t just follow protocol—she redefined it. Her work on digitizing land records in Udaipur and slashing red tape in rural procurement earned her multiple commendations from the state’s Chief Secretary. By mid-2024, she was flagged for accelerated promotion—a rarity reserved for officers who deliver measurable impact, not just tenure.
Why This Matters Beyond Rajasthan
This isn’t just about two sisters. It’s about whether India’s civil service is evolving—or stuck in tradition. For decades, promotions were based on seniority, with performance often secondary. But Ria’s rise signals a quiet revolution. The state government, under Sharma, has quietly institutionalized a performance-based evaluation system, using metrics like grievance resolution time, tax collection efficiency, and digital service adoption. Ria scored in the top 1% across all categories in 2023.
Tina, meanwhile, is being honored for work that defined the old guard: her rainwater harvesting initiative in Barmer, which revived 17 village ponds and increased groundwater levels by 42% over two years, will be recognized with the National Water AwardVigyan Bhavan by President Draupadi Murmu on November 18, 2025. It’s a fitting tribute—but also a contrast. Tina’s legacy is built on persistence. Ria’s on precision.
Behind the Scenes: The Social Media Storm
When the reshuffle was announced, social media exploded. Twitter threads compared their career graphs side-by-side. Reddit users created infographics titled “Tina’s Marathon vs. Ria’s Sprint.” Memes circulated: “When your sister gets promoted before you finish your first project.”
Tina, ever the professional, filed an FIR against impersonators on Instagram and Facebook—proof she’s still fiercely protective of her public image. But she hasn’t commented publicly on the promotion comparison. Sources close to her say she’s proud—“not envious,” one aide clarified. “She knows what it took. And she knows what’s coming next.”
What’s Next for the Dabi Sisters?
Ria’s next likely posting? Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office—a role that could position her for even faster advancement. Meanwhile, Tina’s new role as Commissioner of the Employment Guarantee Scheme puts her in charge of Rajasthan’s largest welfare program, targeting 1.2 million unemployed citizens. Her focus: skill mapping, digital job portals, and aligning state schemes with national employment goals.
Both women represent different philosophies of public service. Tina embodies the slow, steady grind of a generation that believed in patience. Ria embodies the new: results-driven, tech-savvy, impatient with bureaucracy that doesn’t serve.
One thing’s certain: the IAS isn’t what it used to be. And the Dabi sisters? They’re not just breaking records. They’re rewriting the rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ria Dabi get promoted so quickly compared to her sister?
Ria Dabi’s rapid promotion was driven by measurable performance metrics under Rajasthan’s new evaluation system, which prioritizes outcomes like digital governance efficiency, grievance resolution speed, and citizen satisfaction. She scored in the top 1% of all IAS officers in 2023, triggering an accelerated review process rarely used before 2022. Her sister Tina’s promotion followed the older seniority-based model.
What is the significance of the September 2024 Rajasthan IAS reshuffle?
The September 2024 reshuffle affected 108 IAS officers—the largest single transfer in Rajasthan’s modern history. Beyond routine postings, it signaled a shift toward performance-based mobility, with officers like Ria Dabi being fast-tracked for excellence. It also marked the first time two sisters in the same service were simultaneously promoted and transferred under the same administrative order.
What is Tina Dabi’s current role and major achievement?
Tina Dabi now serves as Commissioner of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Jaipur, overseeing job programs for over a million unemployed Rajasthanis. Her landmark achievement was leading rainwater harvesting projects in Barmer district, which revived 17 village ponds and increased groundwater levels by 42%. She will receive the National Water Award from President Draupadi Murmu on November 18, 2025, for this work.
Are there other cases of siblings in the IAS achieving similar milestones?
While sibling pairs in the IAS aren’t rare—there are at least five documented cases since 2000—no other pair has seen such a dramatic contrast in promotion timelines. Ria’s three-year rise is unmatched in modern Indian bureaucracy. Even the most high-performing officers typically take five to seven years to reach the Senior Administrative Scale under the new system.
Why did Tina Dabi file an FIR against social media impersonators?
Fake social media accounts were falsely attributing political statements and policy decisions to Tina Dabi, risking public confusion and damaging her professional credibility. As a senior officer handling sensitive welfare programs, misinformation could undermine public trust. Her FIR was a proactive step to protect institutional integrity and prevent the spread of fabricated narratives.
What does this mean for future IAS aspirants?
The Dabi sisters’ contrasting paths show that while UPSC rank still opens doors, sustained performance now determines speed of advancement. Aspirants must now focus on digital literacy, data-driven governance, and citizen engagement—not just exam prep. The message is clear: in today’s IAS, results matter more than tenure.
