Uttam Kumar

Uttam Kumar is a senior provincial civil services (PCS) officer from Uttarakhand who took voluntary retirement in November 2026 after 22 years of service. He is 47, according to ETV Bharat and PTI.

Kumar served as an employment officer in several districts of the state, including Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal and Chamoli, and in some blocks of Dehradun. His last posting was Employment Officer in the Department of Employment at Lansdowne in Pauri Garhwal district. ETV Bharat reported that he organised job fairs and career counselling for young people.

He applied for the voluntary retirement scheme in May, and the state government accepted the request on 9 November 2026, the State Foundation Day. In a social media post he wrote that he felt a profound sense of regret for not being able to provide young people with jobs that match their qualifications, and asked what the point was of staying in the post of employment officer if jobs could not be provided. He also said the decision would give him the courage to move towards new paths.

The reports say his future plans are unclear. The two outlets carry no response from the state government.

Sources: ETV Bharat, PTI via ThePrint.