Rachita Bhandari (IFS) Family, Biography » StarsUnfolded

Some Lesser Known Facts About Rachita Bhandari

• Rachita Bhandari from Amritsar secured the sixth position in the All-India Civil Services Examination merit list declared on 11 May 2005.

• She was also placed first among women candidates in the examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
  

  Rachita Bhandari (in blue) with her family after becoming an IFS officer

• A month before her final interview, she lost her father and elder sister in quick succession. She joined the Indian Foreign Service and focused on serving the nation at international forums.

• She also continued her studies in international affairs, diplomacy, and her favourite subject, economics. She completed her postgraduate degree in commerce from Delhi School of Economics.

• She earlier studied at Sri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi during her graduation.

• During her school and early college years, she had not initially planned to join the civil services. Later, she decided that civil services would be a suitable profession for her career goals.

• Her mother, Sudha Bhandari, ran an ICSE-affiliated school and stated that Rachita consistently performed as a topper throughout her schooling years.

• She spent six years in Delhi, where she interacted with professors and classmates who supported her preparation.

• She credited her success to regular reading habits and consistent hard work during her preparation period.

• Her father, Naveen Bhandari, was a chartered accountant who encouraged her to pursue commerce studies.

• She served as second secretary of the permanent mission of India in 2008.
  

  Rachita Bhandari during her initial years as an IFS officer

• In 2019, she was attached to Punjab during the State Attachment of Indian Foreign Service Officers.

• Bhandari has served in various capacities at Indian diplomatic missions abroad as well as at headquarters in India.

• She became the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Embassy of India in Berlin, Germany, on 11 October 2021, where she engaged with bilateral partners on diplomatic, regulatory, and institutional cooperation.

• Earlier, she served as Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of India in Berlin.

• She has also been a counsellor (disarmament) at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, representing India in international disarmament and security dialogues.
  

  Rachita Bhandari during a meeting

• In 2022, she was listed among IFS officers empanelled for Joint Secretary-level roles in the Government of India.

• In January 2024, Civil Lines police registered a case after her land was allegedly grabbed in Amritsar.

• The case was registered following recommendations made by the Deputy Commissioner after a probe conducted by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

• The complaint was filed in December 2023 by her mother with the Deputy Commissioner. The disputed land was located in Haer village on Airport Road in Amritsar.

• On January 4, the SDM submitted a report recommending registration of an FIR under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 and relevant IPC sections.

• The police booked six persons under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. The case was also registered under Section 82 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908.

• Among those arrested were Nambardar Rupinder Kaur, witness James Hans, and Narain Singh, who arranged the stamp paper for registry.

• Other accused include deed writer Ashwani Kumar Ashu and Sher Singh, identified as the unknown seller of the property.

• In February 2026, she was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Malta.