This Man Going Viral For Singing ‘Andaz-E-Karam' Isn't Ordinary. He Cleared IIT, UPSC & Then...
Even after achieving top ranks in India's toughest exams, Kashish Mittal left his successful career behind and followed his dream of becoming a Hindustani classical musician.
The internet is blessed with a video of Kashish Mittal, a former IAS officer and IIT Delhi graduate, in which he could be heard giving a soulful performance. In the clip, Mittal beautifully sings Unke Andaz-e-Karam by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His soothing voice and perfect notes have left social media users impressed. Many praised Kashish not only for his voice but also for sharing such a deep and personal feeling through music. He's not your usual IAS officer. He secured an All India Rank 6 in the IIT JEE and Rank 58 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Who Is Kashish Mittal?
According to Indian Masterminds, Mittal was born in Jalandhar in 1989. He completed his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi and later cleared the UPSC exam on his first try. Even while handling school, college and tough exams, music always remained an important part of his life.
Over the years, he gained recognition for his talent and was given an 'A Grade' by All India Radio and Doordarshan. He is now seen as one of the bright young talents of the Agra Gharana in Indian classical music.
In the video shared on Instagram, Kashish Mittal wrote, 'POV: When you're left with nothing after falling in love."
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'Boys after doing IIT and IAS."
Another jokingly asked, 'Sir, aapka dil kisne tod diya. (Sir, who broke your heart)."
'Respect that even after IIT AIR6 and IAS, you are still pursuing your passion, Respect Sir," a comment read.
An individual stated, 'This or nothing. What a voice, what a tonal quality."
Another mentioned, 'Can we please get to hear the full version?"
One more added, 'Countless achievements lead you to extreme calmness."
Work and Awards:
Interestingly, Kashish Mittal's father, Jagdish Kumar, was an IPS officer. Following his footsteps, Kashish joined the civil services and served as an IAS officer for nine years. During this time, he worked as the Additional Deputy Commissioner in Chandigarh and Deputy Commissioner of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. He was then part of the Ministry of External Affairs and NITI Aayog, where he served as Additional Principal Secretary.
After stepping away from the civil services, Kashish dedicated his time towards Indian classical music. His hard work brought him many honours, including the Punjab State Award for Art and Culture in 2007, followed by the Saraswati Samman from IIT Delhi in 2010 and in 2018, he was honoured with the Naad Shri Samman for his contribution to Hindustani classical music.
Even during his school and college days, Kashish received support from the Centre for Cultural Resources & Training (CCRT), National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Scholarships.
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July 23, 2025, 08:00 IST
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