Who is IAS officer Sakshi Sawhney, the hopeful face winning hearts amid Punjab’s devastating floods
BabushahI Bureau
Chandigarh, September 7, 2025: As Punjab battles one of the worst floods in recent years, IAS officer Sakshi Sawhney, the first woman Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Amritsar, has emerged as a beacon of hope for thousands of affected families. Leading from the front, Sawhney has been tirelessly visiting flood-hit areas, supervising relief operations, and directly engaging with people to boost their morale.
A 2014-batch IAS officer, Sawhney secured All India Rank 6 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2013. Known for her dedication and sensitivity, she has now earned widespread respect and admiration from Amritsar’s residents. Many locals have been seen embracing her, blessing her, and openly appreciating her humane approach during these testing times.
Sawhney’s focus has been on ensuring immediate relief—arranging safe shelters, food supplies, medicines, and timely rescue of stranded families. By personally interacting with villagers and listening to their concerns, she has instilled confidence among people who lost homes, crops, and livelihoods. Her ground-level involvement has set her apart from routine bureaucratic functioning.
Born and brought up in Rajasthan, Sawhney comes from a family with a strong service background—her father is a retired IRS officer, her mother a school principal, and her sister works in banking. After schooling in a private institution, she graduated from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, with a BA LLB (Hons.), winning eight gold medals for academic excellence. Though her initial ambition was to pursue law, she felt a stronger calling to serve society directly, leading her to civil services.
Despite missing the UPSC cut in her first attempt due to low marks in the essay paper, she drew inspiration from topper Geetanjali Banden (Rank 6, 2011). With renewed determination, she cracked the exam in her second attempt, securing an impressive AIR 6.
Today, Sawhney stands as an example of how committed officers can transform governance. Her empathetic handling of the crisis has not only provided immediate relief but has also strengthened the bond of trust between the administration and citizens. For flood-hit Amritsar, IAS Sakshi Sawhney is not just an administrator—she is a source of strength, compassion, and hope.