Dwivedi’s most visible statement of intent came after a heavy spell of rain in August left parts of the Lutyens’ area of the national capital waterlogged. He did not blame an unusually intense downpour or seek refuge in words like “unprecedented weather”. He simply said sorry.

“I sincerely apologise to everyone in NDMC area who faced difficulties due to waterlogging instances on 25th August 2026,” Dwivedi wrote on X, acknowledging that more than 72 mm of rain had fallen in less than two hours but also that rain “cannot be an excuse”.

The admission earned him praise from an unlikely quarter - the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as well as social media users. More importantly, it offered an early insight into how the 1997-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre intends to approach his new assignment.

Taking Charge In Lutyens’ Delhi

Dwivedi took charge of the NDMC on August 5, stepping into one of the capital’s most visible civic jobs. 

His jurisdiction encompasses the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, including government institutions, diplomatic missions, Parliament, and some of the city’s most prominent roads and public spaces. The expectations attached to the post are consequently high, and the problems are often immediately visible and flagged.

Dwivedi’s response to the waterlogging episode was revealing, as he not only apologised but also promised both immediate and longer-term measures to improve the drainage response.

For him, the larger issue was not one rain event, but the quality of feedback reaching the administration. “If I go by what is reported to me by officials, I may not get the real picture,” he told reporters, making the case for a more direct relationship between citizens and the civic authority. 

Residents, in his view, should help define the benchmark against which the council’s performance is judged.

On Toilets Too

When complaints surfaced about the condition of public and community toilets, Dwivedi again chose acknowledgement over defensiveness. “The situation of many Public Toilets/Community toilets in the NDMC area is not satisfactory. It needs lots of improvements,” he wrote on ‘X’, adding that a system was being put in place to address the shortcomings.

The same approach is visible in his attention to road cleaning, dust, litter and civic presentation. The council is working on a standard operating procedure for cleaner roads and public spaces, including pressure-jet washing and greater use of mechanised sweeping. Six mechanised road-sweeping machines have already been deployed.

Ground-level workers too have been included in his early interventions. 

Dwivedi has said fluorescent safety jackets will be made mandatory for field staff, particularly to improve their visibility during night operations—a seemingly small measure, but one that reflects his emphasis on operational detail.

Beyond Posturing

On littering, he has highlighted the ‘Roko Toko’ initiative, intended to discourage people from throwing waste and encourage the use of dustbins. A signature campaign across at least 10 colonies is also planned, seeking public commitments towards a cleaner, zero-waste culture.

Dwivedi’s public-facing style is not about claiming responsibility only for the sake of appearing responsive.

When a social-media user complained about encroachment near AIIMS Gate No. 6 on Ring Road, Dwivedi said he had checked the matter with his team. The location, he clarified, was outside NDMC jurisdiction and fell under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He also pointed out that the MCD had issued vending licences to vendors at the site.

IIT Delhi Graduate

Born in Haryana, Dwivedi joined the IAS in 1997 and was allotted the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, which subsequently became part of the AGMUT framework. 

A chemical engineering graduate, he has publicly written about studying at IIT Delhi, completing his engineering degree with a CGPA of 9 and securing the 16th rank in the Civil Services examination. His public profile has also included academic associations with IIM Bangalore and Cambridge.

His first recorded IAS posting was as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Kathua in September 1999. District and field administration was an important part of his formative years.

He served as Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and later as Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri. He worked as Director in the Employment Department and Director of Education before becoming Deputy Commissioner of Leh and Ladakh in 2006. From 2009 to 2010, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Jammu.

The career subsequently widened into policy and departmental administration. Dwivedi held responsibilities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Information Technology and Science and Technology departments and later became Secretary, Health and Medical Education.

A stint at the Centre followed. 

He served in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and as Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. In 2015, he was empanelled as Joint Secretary and later worked in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including on matters related to export-import policy. He also chaired the Tobacco Board and served as its Executive Director.

Accolades In Jammu And Kashmir

His return to Jammu and Kashmir brought another substantial administrative chapter. 

He served as Commissioner/Secretary in the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department and subsequently in the Industries and Commerce Department. In June 2020, he received additional charge of the General Administration Department (GAD) and the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development, before becoming Principal Secretary of GAD.

It was a period of major institutional transition following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state. As GAD chief, he was associated with the 2021 order enabling spouses of Jammu and Kashmir domicile certificate holders to obtain domicile status.

As Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, his department also dealt with issues involving government doctors’ private practice during official hours. In August 2022, it ordered an inquiry into allegations concerning referrals of patients from government hospitals to private facilities under the AB-PMJAY and SEHAT schemes.

His service record in Jammu and Kashmir also brought recognition, as he received the Lieutenant Governor’s award for honesty, integrity, and meritorious public service.

In August 2022, Dwivedi again moved to the Centre on deputation, joining DoPT. He was elevated to the rank of Additional Secretary in November that year and spent nearly four years in the Union government’s personnel administration. During this tenure, he worked on the notification of the Prevention of Unfair Means in Public Examinations Act in 2024. His deputation was extended in 2025.

In August 2026, he was repatriated to his parent AGMUT cadre. The following day came his appointment as NDMC chairman, with Dwivedi formally assuming charge on 7 August.