Tukaram Mundhe, a senior official from the state of Maharashtra who has experienced 25 transfers during his 21-year career, shared the bitter truth about the impact of frequent postings on family. He stated that he would never advise his children to join the civil services (IAS/IPS).
Tukaram Mundhe currently serves as the FDA Commissioner of Maharashtra. At a recent event, he emphasized that he prefers his children to become entrepreneurs or public leaders capable of working independently for society.
The consequences of a bureaucrat's constant relocation are felt not only at work but also within the family. In Tukaram Mundhe's case, due to his continuous moves, his son had to change schools six times before reaching the fifth grade.
Mundhe noted that changing cities, homes, and educational institutions causes children to lose friends, their academic performance suffers, and the entire family has to start from scratch. His wife also constantly had to adapt her life to her husband's new workplaces.
In Tukaram Mundhe's opinion, his statement is not a call to abandon public service. He believes that modern young people have many more effective ways to change the country and help society besides joining the IAS. He posits that in business or entrepreneurship, as well as in public leadership, youth possess greater freedom in expressing opinions, making decisions, and solving problems compared to government positions, where numerous restrictions exist.
Tukaram Mundhe is known as one of the strictest and most honest officials in Maharashtra. He is valued for his approach to work, strict adherence to rules, and ability to act without any political pressure. It is these qualities that led to his career being marked by 25 transfers over 21 years. Since May 2026, he has been leading the state's FDA apparatus, taking strict measures against counterfeit products and unsafe food.
This conflict between the glamour of public service and the difficulties faced by the family serves as a point of reflection for all students preparing for civil service exams. This story reveals the price that a family must pay for the brilliance of state power.