Siddharth Babu: From Mechanical Engineering to IFS via UPSC AIR 15
IFS officer Siddharth Babu cleared UPSC with AIR 15 after an earlier failed attempt, leaving mechanical engineering and private-sector work for a career in diplomacy.
Indian Foreign Service officer Siddharth Babu has drawn public attention after appearing in a widely shared photograph from the recent BRICS Summit, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The image has renewed interest in the career trajectory of an officer who moved from engineering and the private sector into the diplomatic service.
An engineering start, then a change of direction
Babu studied mechanical engineering and subsequently worked in the private sector, including in e-commerce. A growing interest in international relations eventually drew him towards the Civil Services Examination.
His first attempt at the UPSC examination was unsuccessful. He returned for a second attempt with a clearer grasp of the examination and secured All India Rank 15, after which he opted for the Indian Foreign Service.
Why diplomacy
A high rank opens the door to several services, but Babu chose the IFS because of his interest in international affairs and diplomacy. He joined the service's 2017 batch.
His career has included an overseas posting in Beijing from 2018 to 2022, where he developed his Chinese-language skills. He later served in California and also completed a master's degree in language interpretation and translation.
Language and diplomacy
Much of Babu's work has centred on bridging language and communication gaps during high-level diplomatic meetings. His command of Chinese and his experience in China have been especially relevant to that role.
He has also been seen assisting during high-profile engagements involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His appearance at the BRICS Summit has highlighted the officials who work behind the scenes during meetings between world leaders.
A wider lesson for engineering graduates
Babu's route also illustrates that an engineering degree does not confine a student to one field. After his engineering studies and private-sector experience, he moved to the civil services and then to diplomacy — a path that may hold lessons for engineering graduates weighing UPSC and other competitive examinations.