Himachal Pradesh News
Mandi Board Topper Alisha Thakur Becomes Deputy Commissioner for a Day, Takes a Step Closer to Her IAS Dream
Dreams often begin in classrooms, but for 16-year-old Alisha Thakur, one exceptional day brought her closer to the corridors of administration. The Class 10 student from Kotli, who topped Mandi district with an impressive 99.57% marks in the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) examinations, was given the rare opportunity to serve as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a day.
Dreams often begin in classrooms, but for 16-year-old Alisha Thakur, one exceptional day brought her closer to the corridors of administration. The Class 10 student from Kotli, who topped Mandi district with an impressive 99.57% marks in the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) examinations, was given the rare opportunity to serve as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a day.
The inspiring initiative was introduced by Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan with the aim of motivating bright students and helping them understand how the administration works at the district level.
A Day Inside the Deputy Commissioner’s Office
During her role as the “Deputy Commissioner for a Day,” Alisha participated in several important administrative activities. She attended public grievance meetings at the DC office, interacted with officials, observed the working of various government departments, and gained practical knowledge about governance and public administration.
She also witnessed the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected panchayat representatives, giving her a closer look at the democratic processes at the grassroots level.
Learning Disaster Management and Public Service
Alisha’s day was not limited to office responsibilities. She also participated in the statewide mega mock drill, where she reviewed disaster management strategies, emergency response systems, and relief preparedness measures.
The experience helped her understand how different departments coordinate during emergencies and the responsibilities involved in ensuring public safety.
Honoured for Her Outstanding Achievement
Recognising her remarkable academic success, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan honoured Alisha with a traditional Himachali cap and shawl.
Speaking about the initiative, the Deputy Commissioner said that the programme was designed to introduce young minds to the real-world functioning of governance and administration. He added that a similar opportunity had also been provided to the district’s board topper in the previous year, highlighting the administration’s commitment to encouraging talented students.
‘I Want to Become an IAS Officer’: Alisha Shares Her Dream
For Alisha, a student of Oxford School, Kotli, the experience was more than just an honour—it was a motivation to work harder toward her lifelong ambition of becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Describing the moment as a “dream come true,” she said that observing administrative responsibilities from such close quarters would help her better understand her future career path.
She also delivered an inspiring message to fellow students, encouraging them to identify their strengths and weaknesses honestly and remain committed to consistent hard work.
Her mother and teacher, who accompanied her during the programme, expressed pride in her achievement and said the recognition would motivate many other students across Himachal Pradesh to aim higher and achieve excellence.
