Shahzad Alam is a 2019 batch IAS officer from Bihar who cracked UPSC at 23. Learn about his age, wife Qazi Bisma IPS, cadre, postings & net worth.
Shahzad Alam is one of India’s youngest and most inspiring IAS officers, having cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination at the remarkable age of 23. A product of IIT Guwahati and a former Qualcomm engineer, his transition from the corporate world to public service is a story that motivates thousands of UPSC aspirants every year.
A 2019 batch officer of the prestigious AGMUT cadre, Shahzad has served in diverse roles across Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir. He is currently posted as Director of Employment and Director of Skill Development in J&K, and serves as CEO of Mission Youth and MD of Mission YUVA — roles that place youth empowerment at the center of his career.
Quick Facts About Shahzad Alam IAS
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shahzad Alam |
| Date of Birth | 27 February 1995 |
| Age | 30 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Bihar, India |
| Profession | IAS Officer (AGMUT Cadre, 2019 Batch) |
| UPSC AIR | 398 (UPSC CSE 2018) |
| UPSC Total Score | 981 |
| Education | B.Tech, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, IIT Guwahati (2016) |
| Spouse | Qazi Bisma (IPS Officer, AGMUT 2017 Batch) |
| Famous For | Youngest IAS officers from Bihar, UPSC success story |
| Current Posting | Director Employment & Skill Development, J&K; CEO Mission Youth |
Early Life and Roots in Bihar
Shahzad Alam was born on 27 February 1995 in Bihar, a state that has produced a remarkable number of UPSC toppers over the decades. Growing up in Bihar instilled in him a deep awareness of administrative challenges and the transformative power of good governance. His early years were shaped by a strong academic environment and family support that pushed him toward excellence.
Bihar’s competitive academic culture and the inspiration of civil servants likely played a role in steering him toward the UPSC dream. However, his immediate path after school was not civil services — it was engineering. This would later prove to be an asset, giving him a rigorous analytical foundation that served him well both in the examination and in his administrative career.
Education: From Bihar to IIT Guwahati
Shahzad earned his B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati in 2016. IIT Guwahati is one of India’s top engineering institutions, and graduating from it speaks to his strong academic caliber. The four years at IIT helped him develop structured thinking, problem-solving skills, and the discipline that UPSC demands.
After graduation, he joined Qualcomm, a global semiconductor and telecommunications giant, as an engineer. While his corporate career was promising, his passion for public service led him to pursue the UPSC Civil Services Examination — a decision that changed the trajectory of his life.
UPSC Journey: Cracking the Exam at 23
Shahzad Alam appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and secured All India Rank 398 with an impressive total score of 981. What makes this achievement extraordinary is that he cracked the exam at just 23 years of age, making him one of the youngest IAS officers in his batch. His success story — from an IIT graduate working at Qualcomm to an IAS officer — is widely cited in UPSC motivational circles.
He was allotted the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) in the 2019 batch. This cadre offers wide exposure across union territories and northeastern states, and Shahzad has made the most of it through impactful postings across multiple regions.
Administrative Career and Key Postings
After joining the IAS in 2019, Shahzad began his district-level training and early postings under the AGMUT cadre. He served in Himachal Pradesh before being transferred on inter-cadre terms to GNCTD (Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi). In Delhi, he served as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Rohini, gaining ground-level administrative experience in one of India’s most densely populated urban districts.
He was subsequently posted as Special Commissioner, Transport Department, Government of Delhi, a high-profile role that put him at the heart of improving public transportation, commuter safety, and urban mobility in the capital. His engineering background made him particularly effective in understanding technical transportation challenges.
His career then took him to Jammu & Kashmir, where he currently holds multiple significant portfolios. As Director of Employment, Director of Skill Development, CEO of Mission Youth J&K, and MD of Mission YUVA, he works directly on youth-focused initiatives aimed at generating employment and building skills among J&K’s young population. These roles reflect both his administrative maturity and his commitment to grassroots impact.
Personal Life: A Power Couple in Indian Civil Services
Shahzad Alam is married to Qazi Bisma, an accomplished IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre’s 2017 batch. Their relationship is widely admired as a real-life example of two civil servants united by shared values of public service. Qazi Bisma is a well-regarded officer in her own right, making them one of the most celebrated couples in India’s administrative services.
The couple’s story resonates deeply with UPSC aspirants, as both hail from humble roots and rose through merit and dedication. Details about their children, if any, are not publicly available.
Net Worth and Earnings
As an IAS officer of the 2019 batch, Shahzad Alam draws his salary according to the 7th Pay Commission pay structure. An IAS officer at his level typically earns in the range of ₹56,100 to ₹1,00,000 per month, including allowances, depending on the posting and grade pay. His net worth in the traditional sense is not publicly disclosed, as is standard for serving government officers.
His wealth and status come not from private enterprise but from his public service salary, government accommodation, and associated benefits. He previously worked at Qualcomm before joining the IAS, which gave him early financial stability before his government career.
Achievements and Recognition
Shahzad’s most celebrated achievement remains cracking UPSC at age 23 after a brief stint at Qualcomm — a feat that places him among the youngest IAS entrants in recent years. His diverse postings across Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K have shown his adaptability and administrative depth. His current work through Mission Youth and Mission YUVA in J&K is widely praised for its tangible impact on youth employment and skill development in a sensitive region.
In April 2025, he made news when he filed a complaint against IndiGo Airlines after being denied boarding on a flight from Srinagar to Delhi despite timely arrival. The incident, which he shared on X (formerly Twitter), went viral and sparked a wider national conversation about airline policies and customer service standards.
Wrapping Up
Shahzad Alam’s journey from a small town in Bihar to the corridors of power in Delhi and J&K is a powerful testament to what focused effort and purpose can achieve. He represents a new generation of civil servants who combine technical expertise with administrative vision. His career, still in its early stages, already reflects both breadth and depth.
Together with his wife Qazi Bisma IPS, Shahzad embodies the ideal that public service is not just a job — it is a calling. As he continues his impactful work in Jammu & Kashmir, many are watching his career with great interest, expecting even larger contributions in the years ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Shahzad Alam IAS?
Shahzad Alam is a 2019 batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, born on 27 February 1995 in Bihar. He cracked the UPSC Civil Services Exam at age 23 with AIR 398. He is currently serving in Jammu & Kashmir as Director of Employment, Skill Development, and CEO of Mission Youth.
Q2: What is Shahzad Alam’s UPSC rank?
Shahzad Alam secured All India Rank 398 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018 with a total score of 981. He was allocated the AGMUT cadre in the 2019 batch.
Q3: Who is Shahzad Alam’s wife?
Shahzad Alam is married to Qazi Bisma, an IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre’s 2017 batch. The couple is widely regarded as one of India’s most inspiring civil services power couples.
Q4: Where did Shahzad Alam study?
He completed his B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from IIT Guwahati in 2016. Before joining the IAS, he worked as an engineer at Qualcomm.
Q5: What is Shahzad Alam’s current posting?
As of 2025, Shahzad Alam is posted in Jammu & Kashmir as Director of Employment, Director of Skill Development, CEO of Mission Youth J&K, and MD of Mission YUVA.
Q6: What is Shahzad Alam’s age?
Shahzad Alam was born on 27 February 1995, making him 30 years old as of 2025.
Q7: What is Shahzad Alam’s net worth?
As a serving IAS officer, his income is based on the 7th Pay Commission salary structure, estimated between ₹56,100 and ₹1,00,000+ per month including allowances. His net worth is not publicly disclosed, which is standard for government officers.
