Abhishek Singh – The IAS Officer Who Took Nation-Building From Bureaucracy to the Big Screen (Times 40 Under 40, Founder - Yuva Seva Shakti)

"I believe true service goes beyond the desk—it lives in the streets, the stories, and the spirit of the people."

Q. From leading crisis management as an IAS officer to walking the red carpet at Cannes—what inner calling or moment triggered your transition from administration to storytelling and cinema?

I come from a modest, middle-class family in a small town called Jaunpur. Until college, even Delhi felt like a distant planet—and Bombay, with all its glitz and glamour, was unimaginable. Cannes? That was not even in the realm of dreams.

But after joining the IAS, I was exposed to two contrasting Indias—one of power, privilege, and influence, and another of deep deprivation and hopelessness. Amid these, I discovered a third India too: a segment full of energy, idealism, and a desire to serve. I saw firsthand how government alone cannot bridge the vast gap between policy intent and on-ground delivery.

That’s when I realized my purpose wasn't limited to administration or storytelling. It was to become a bridge—using cinema, civil society, and platforms like United by Blood and Yuva Seva Shakti—to channel the power of youth and selfless service into meaningful change. I didn’t quit service for glamour. I expanded service into newer spaces where change was equally, if not more, powerful.

Q. Your initiative 'United by Blood' became a lifeline during the pandemic. What leadership principles or ground realities shaped your approach to such swift and innovative public service?

In a crisis, people don’t wait for protocols—they wait for hope. United by Blood emerged when I saw systems overwhelmed, but people still willing to help. Whether it was arranging oxygen, plasma, or vaccines, I realized that what India needed was not just resources, but coordination and trust.

The principle was simple - power doesn't lie only in positions; it lies in purpose. And often, philanthropy doesn’t come from the rich—it comes from those who care. We built digital bridges for plasma donors, created drive-through vaccination sites, and delivered oxygen at doorsteps—not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. That was the beginning of my deeper conviction: civil society, if organized well, can be a force as strong as the state.

Q. As the founder of Yuva Seva Shakti, how do you envision mobilizing India’s youth in an era where social media activism often replaces ground-level engagement?

Today’s youth are not lazy—they're leaderless. They want to help, they want to build, but they don’t know how. Yuva Seva Shakti was born from that realization. It's not a campaign—it’s a channel. A channel that takes the idealism of India’s youth and turns it into measurable impact.

Through initiatives like health insurance cards for elders or telemedicine helplines for villages, we are showing young people that real change doesn’t require waiting for exams or elections. It begins with showing up. If we can use the energy of the young, the experience of the old, and the infrastructure of the government—India will not just progress, it will transform.

Q. Your film “1946: Direct Action Day” uncovers a suppressed chapter of Indian history. What drew you to this story, and how do you see the role of cinema in shaping national consciousness?

History isn’t just about what happened—it’s also about what was hidden. 1946: Direct Action Day was one such story. It shaped the fate of millions, yet was conveniently brushed aside in our textbooks. That drew me in. I wanted to use cinema to hold a mirror to the past—so that the future could see itself clearly.

I’ve always believed that storytelling is nation-building. While policies inform minds, stories reform hearts. If a film can awaken even a few to question, to reflect, to remember—then it has done its job. Cinema, to me, is not just art. It’s impact.

Q. You've worn the hats of a bureaucrat, actor, writer, and youth leader. How do you balance these identities, and what do they each teach you about power, influence, and service?

The common thread is purpose. Whether I'm writing a scene, leading a volunteer drive, or coordinating relief during a disaster—I ask the same question: Who is being served here?

Bureaucracy taught me how systems work. Cinema taught me how people feel. Youth work taught me how change begins. Acting gave me empathy. And each of these roles feeds into the other. What looks like a juggle from outside is actually alignment on the inside. Power is hollow without service. Influence is directionless without empathy. And real leadership is when you’re not the hero—people are.

Q. In a time of rising cynicism about public institutions, how can leaders like you rebuild trust—especially among the youth—in governance and nation-building?

Trust is not declared. It is demonstrated. The youth today are not apathetic—they’re observant. They’ve seen too many promises break, too many slogans fade. To earn their trust, we have to do what governments often struggle with: show up, stay consistent, and invite participation.

That’s what I try to do with Yuva Seva Shakti. Not by preaching patriotism, but by practicing purpose. When youth see that they can help someone’s grandmother get insurance, or get oxygen to a stranger’s home, or bring medicines to the remote, they start believing—not just in the system, but in themselves. That is how trust is built—not on podiums, but on pavements.

Bio

Abhishek Singh is a 2011 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, now turned actor, filmmaker, and youth leader. Recognized as one of Times 40 Under 40, he served in pivotal roles such as Deputy Commissioner of New Delhi and Shahdara, where he launched transformative initiatives like United by Blood during the COVID-19 crisis—pioneering drive-through vaccination, doorstep oxygen delivery, and citizen-driven public health platforms.

He is the founder of Yuva Seva Shakti, a national youth movement that mobilizes young Indians for grassroots service aligned with the spirit of nation-building.

Abhishek made history as the first IAS officer to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, with his debut feature film “1946: Direct Action Day – The Erased History of Bengal” receiving international acclaim. 

As an actor, he has featured in widely loved music videos such as “Dil Tod Ke,” “Tujhe Bhoolna To Chaha,” “Kali Kali Zulfon Ke,” and his own original track “Third Party,” which he wrote, composed, and performed.

He is married to a fellow IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serving as District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri. Abhishek draws his values and inner strength from his family—his father, a retired IPS officer, and his mother, a homemaker, who instilled in him the ideals of discipline and compassion.

Combining governance, creativity, and a commitment to public good, Abhishek Singh represents a new-age model of public leadership for India.

Instagram - Abhishek Singh


Interviewed by Ishika Ahuja