IAS Ajit Basant Takes Charge as Sarguja Collector: From SSC Officer to UPSC Success

Sarguja district in Chhattisgarh has a new Collector. IAS officer Ajit Basant assumed charge in Ambikapur, becoming the 53rd Collector of the district. On his very first day, he began reviewing various government schemes and instructed officials to implement policies effectively for the welfare of the public.

Who is IAS Ajit Basant?
Born on 20 January 1987 in Madhubani, Bihar, Ajit Basant grew up in a household that valued education—his father was a lecturer. Known for his academic brilliance from an early age, Ajit initially considered pursuing engineering after class 12 but later chose a different path. Inspired by the dream of his grandfather and father to see a family member join the civil services, he pursued a BA in History (Honours) while preparing for the UPSC exam.

From SSC CGL to UPSC
Before cracking the UPSC, Ajit cleared the SSC CGL exam and served as an Assistant Accounts Officer and Section Officer in Delhi. While working, he continued his UPSC preparation. He appeared for the UPSC exam for the first time in 2010, successfully clearing the prelims but falling short in the mains. Undeterred, he strengthened his preparation and retook the exam in 2012, successfully clearing prelims, mains, and the interview. He thus became an IAS officer of the 2013 Chhattisgarh cadre.

A Remarkable Career So Far
Ajit Basant’s career as an IAS officer in Chhattisgarh has been notable. His first posting was as SDM in Mohla-Manpur, Rajnandgaon, followed by CEO of Zila Panchayat in Janjgir-Champa. He also served in the Revenue Department and later as Additional Collector in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi and CEO of Zila Panchayat, Rajnandgaon.

First Collector Posting & Key Achievements
His first role as a Collector was in Narayanpur district, where he accelerated development initiatives in remote tribal areas like Abujhmad. He then served as Collector of Korba, where he launched a daily breakfast program for over 1 lakh school children, making Korba the first district in Chhattisgarh to implement this scheme. Now, as Sarguja Collector, expectations are high from both the administration and the public.