Punya Salila Srivastava (born September 25, 1970) is a very prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. She is an outstanding official who is praised for her organizational skills, discipline, and leadership at the same time; she is in charge of the Home Affairs ministry as Joint Secretary of the Government of India's MHA. Punya has been gaining a lot of respect in the bureaucratic world for her honesty, professionalism, and public administration contributions over the years.

The beginning of life and academic learning

Punya Salila Srivastava, who was born in a Prayagraj middle-class family, showed extraordinary brilliance and leadership qualities at a very early age. She went through her primary education in a recognized public school in Uttar Pradesh and actively took part in various extracurricular activities, including debate competitions. In fact, her way of confidently stating her views and her strong desire to win were noticeable even at the school level.

After schooling, she continued her education at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, which is one of the most elite institutions in India. She graduated with both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Physics, thus confirming her academic excellence. Being highly motivated to serve the country, she started to get ready for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, which she did in 1992, ultimately joining the IAS in 1993 under the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre.

Family and Relational Life

Punya Salila Srivastava has become a partner of Mr. Navin Srivastava, and the two are characterized by a strong tie that is based on respect and understanding for each other. They also have two daughters, Bhavya Srivastava and Surmaya (Sumaya) Srivastava, who are both professionally dedicated and have received a good education.

Punya, who has a very demanding position in public service, is nevertheless recognized as a person who keeps her family life in equilibrium. For reasons of safety and privacy, she prefers to keep her personal life away from the media. Among her hobbies are reading books and having fun with her family.

Career Journey

Punya, after passing the UPSC exam, commenced her administrative career as an IAS officer in the AGMUT cadre and worked in the states of Delhi, Goa, Daman, Diu, and the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. In no time, she was recognized for her efficiency and integrity. Over the years, she has held numerous prominent positions, including Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

One of her many contributions to the MHA was the creation of the Women Safety Division, which aims at implementing safety measures and cooperation of efforts between the state governments and the central ministries to protect women. Besides, Punya has been the Country’s representative in multiple global programs and was sent for study assignments overseas, such as the University of Maryland, USA, from 2010 to 2011.

She became the face of the National Government during the pandemic for the calm and decisive imposition of lockdown protocols and for her unapologetic demand for the government’s safety compliance. Her facilitation of smooth coordination between the states and the central government in times of crisis has been a widely acknowledged contribution.

Achievements and Recognition

Punya’s commitment has been recognized and rewarded repeatedly, the most recent being the President’s Silver Medal for Excellence in Census Operations (2001). Among her good traits, she is the one who instills hope in aspiring civil servants, especially women who want to be part of India’s administrative services.

Physical Appearance and Personality

Punya is a woman of elegance and strength with a height of 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) and a weight of about 55 kg. The black color of her hair, the sweet dark brown of her eyes, and the peacefulness of her character are all signs of her being calm and confident. Colleagues portray her as an eloquent speaker, a compassionate person, and a fearless one who prefers to be bold in decisions concerning the administration.

Net Worth and Lifestyle

Punya is a senior government official who gets a monthly salary estimated at ₹2,25,000, her net worth being between ₹50–55 lakh (as of 2025). Her salary is her main source of income, and she is living in a simple way, taking the less traveled path, which is more of a service than a luxury.

Lesser-Known Facts

She served as Managing Director and Under Secretary in Goa.
Punya is fluent in Hindi and English and belongs to the Kayastha community.
She emphasizes the importance of women's empowerment and ethical governance.
She encourages officers to use technology responsibly, including the Aarogya Setu app during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Her favorite cuisine is Indian, and she admires actors Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.