Tina Dabi, an IAS officer who gained fame after topping the 2015 UPSC Civil Services Examination, is making headlines once more. Currently serving as the District Collector of Barmer, Rajasthan, since September 2024, she has gone viral due to a video featuring her with BJP leader Satish Poonia.

Viral Video Sparks Controversy

In the widely circulated video, Dabi is seen greeting Satish Poonia, the former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan and the current head of party operations in Haryana. The clip captures Dabi bowing her head several times—allegedly “five times in seven seconds”—as a sign of respect towards Poonia, who commends her work in Barmer, saying, “Barmer will become just like Indore. You are doing good work.”

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Public Reactions: A Mixed Bag

While many appreciated Dabi’s humility, the incident has ignited a debate about the dynamic between civil servants and politicians. Some commentators expressed concern over media portrayals of the event, suggesting that coverage sensationalizes what could simply be seen as a gesture of respect from a subordinate to a senior official.

Social media users shared varied opinions on the matter, with one individual noting, “Greeting one’s elders is not a bad thing; in fact, it’s a good thing.” Another user, Pratibha Pundir, reiterated, “I don’t understand what’s so wrong in this. Greeting one’s elders is not a bad thing; it’s a good thing!”

However, contrasting viewpoints have emerged, raising questions about whether such acts of respect blur the lines between public service and political loyalty. One commenter warned, “This kind of behaviour can undermine the independence of civil servants.” Another user added, “It’s essential for civil servants to maintain a degree of distance from political leaders.”

About Tina Dabi

Tina Dabi began her administrative journey as an Assistant Collector in Ajmer in 2017. Her previous marriage to IAS officer Athar Aamir Khan attracted considerable media scrutiny but ended in 2020 after two years. Dabi continues to be a prominent figure in civil service, especially alongside her younger sister, Ria Dabi, who achieved an impressive all-India rank of 15 in the 2020 UPSC examination. Tina is now married to IAS Pradeep Gawande, the District Collector in Jalore, and they welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in September 2023.