The journey of 2018-batch IAS officers Sahila Heer and Nitin Kumar Singh is notable for both their individual UPSC paths and the way their careers eventually converged in Bihar. Heer, originally from Jalandhar, was initially allotted the Tripura cadre, while Singh, from Varanasi, received the Bihar cadre. After their marriage, Heer's cadre was changed to Bihar in 2019.
Heer pursued BTech in Electronics, Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, followed by postgraduate studies in Event Management. After several attempts, she cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination on her fourth attempt with an All India Rank of 572 and joined the IAS in 2018.
After moving to Bihar, Heer served as SDO of Narkatiaganj and later held DDC responsibilities in Saharsa and Purnia. She also served as Director of Primary Education before becoming the District Magistrate of Buxar in December 2025.
Nitin Kumar Singh, a Chemical Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur, entered the IAS in the same year and was allotted Bihar. His postings included SDO of Patna Sadar, DDC of Madhepura and Municipal Commissioner of Bhagalpur. He became DM of Kaimur in December 2025, while Heer took charge of neighbouring Buxar. In August 2026, Singh was transferred and appointed Director of Secondary Education in Patna.
Their story highlights two separate civil-services journeys that eventually developed within the same state cadre.
