Meet Aarti Singh, Varanasi’s First Female Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police

Aarti Singh’s journey to becoming Varanasi’s first female Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police is nothing short of remarkable. Originally from a village near Sabdulpur in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, Aarti’s story reflects determination and resilience. Her father, Upendra Singh, ran a business in Sonbhadra.

Aarti completed her high school education in Sonbhadra in 2000 and later moved to Singrauli, where she finished her intermediate studies at DAV in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2005 from Rani Durgavati University in Jabalpur, followed by an MBA from Devi Ahilyabai University in Indore.

After working in a private company in Bangalore, Aarti felt unfulfilled and expressed her desire to pursue further studies to her mother. In 2012, she relocated to Delhi with the ambition of clearing the challenging UPSC exam. While preparing, she formed a friendship with Anirudh Singh from Kanpur. The two dedicated two years to their studies, but by 2014, family pressures led Aarti to consider marriage.

Anirudh had already been selected in the PCS, and in 2015, with both families’ blessings, they married. Aarti continued her UPSC preparations while supporting her husband.

A pivotal moment came when Aarti saw a sign on her way to work as a Block Development Officer (BDO) in Meerut. The sign read “Manjil Saini, Senior Superintendent of Police.” This inspired her deeply, prompting her to share her ambitions with Anirudh. Shortly after, she decided to leave her BDO position to pursue her dream of becoming an IPS officer.

In 2017, Aarti succeeded in her final UPSC attempt, earning her place in the Indian Police Service. Following her training, she was posted to Varanasi in 2019 as the in-charge of Rohania police station. By 2020, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Mathura, and in April 2021, she made history as the first woman Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police in Varanasi under the newly implemented Police Commissioner system, taking on responsibilities in Varuna Zone.

Aarti Singh’s story is a testament to the power of ambition and inspiration, serving as a role model for many aspiring officers.