Shri Srijan Varma is a 2021-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Service officer whose career combines technical excellence, revenue administration and grassroots development. Born on May 25, 1994, and hailing from Uttar Pradesh, he joined the IAS on December 5, 2021. After serving in Neemuch and Singrauli, he is presently working as Chief Executive Officer, Zila Panchayat and Additional Collector, Burhanpur, where his responsibilities span Panchayat administration, rural development and district-level coordination.
Early Life and Academic Pursuits
Shri Varma graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad in 2017, building a strong foundation in analytical thinking and systems-based problem solving. He later distinguished himself in national engineering examinations and gained professional experience with the Indian Railways before moving to the civil services, bringing technical discipline and institutional exposure into public administration.
Professional Genesis and Ascendancy
Shri Varma began his Madhya Pradesh career as Assistant Collector, Neemuch, before serving as SDO (Revenue), Singrauli, where he gained experience in land administration, revenue matters and citizen-facing governance. In September 2025, he was entrusted with the dual responsibility of CEO, Zila Panchayat and Additional Collector, Burhanpur, expanding his role into district-level rural development and administrative coordination.
Administrative Tenure: Strengthening Rural Systems through Technology and Convergence
In Burhanpur, Shri Varma’s administrative approach has focused on digital delivery, departmental convergence and stronger last-mile implementation. His dual responsibilities enable closer coordination between Panchayat institutions and district administration, particularly in agriculture, livelihoods and rural sanitation.
Digital Farmer Services through E-Vikas
Under the E-Vikas system, field officials were mobilised to help farmers complete Farmer Registry and Agri Stack IDs and access fertilisers through digitally generated tokens. The initiative sought to make agricultural services more transparent, timely and accessible at the village level.
Strengthening Livestock-Based Livelihoods
Through the Kshirdhara Gram programme, the district is working towards phased coverage of all 258 villages with livestock tagging, vaccination, digital registration, breed improvement and animal-health support. The programme aims to strengthen dairy productivity while improving the long-term sustainability of rural livelihoods.
Community-Led Rural Sanitation
Under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026, village-level efforts focused on regular waste collection, scientific disposal, plantation and citizen participation. The approach emphasised sustained cleanliness practices at the Panchayat level rather than one-time sanitation drives.
Other Notable Achievements
- Strong Technical Distinction: Shri Varma secured AIR 20 in GATE 2018 and AIR 3 in the Engineering Services Examination 2018, demonstrating exceptional grounding in Electrical Engineering.
- Experience with Indian Railways: His selection through the Engineering Services Examination led to professional experience with the Indian Railways, giving him early exposure to a large public-sector institution before entering the IAS.
- UPSC CSE 2020 — AIR 39: He later secured All India Rank 39 in the Civil Services Examination, marking his transition from engineering services to broader public administration.
A Visionary Outlook
Shri Srijan Varma’s administrative journey demonstrates how technical training can strengthen grassroots governance. His experience in revenue administration and rural development reflects an emphasis on organised systems, digital processes and coordinated implementation, particularly in areas that directly affect farmers and village communities.
Why is he one of the ‘Stars of MP’?
Shri Srijan Varma stands out for bringing technical precision and systems thinking into field administration. His journey from engineering and the Indian Railways to revenue governance and rural development reflects an ability to apply analytical skills to practical public-service challenges.
In Burhanpur, his work increasingly connects digital platforms with agriculture, livelihoods and Panchayat-level delivery. This combination of academic excellence, field experience and technology-enabled grassroots administration gives Shri Srijan Varma a distinctive place among the ‘Stars of MP’.
About the Author
