IAS officer Tina Dabi, currently serving as District Collector of Barmer, faced intense scrutiny on social media after a short video from the Republic Day celebrations went viral, showing her momentarily facing the wrong direction while saluting the national flag.
The incident occurred during the official flag-hoisting ceremony at the Barmer collectorate. Dabi unfurled the tricolour as per protocol, but as she moved to salute, she briefly turned in the wrong direction. Realising the error within seconds, she paused, received a prompt gesture from a nearby security personnel, corrected her stance, and completed the salute. The ceremony continued without disruption.
Viral clip sparks mixed reactions
The roughly 30-second clip quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing sharply divided reactions. While some users termed it a “protocol violation” and criticised the lapse as inappropriate for a national event, others dismissed it as an honest, human error. Several comments joked about pressure and exhaustion, while a few resorted to personal attacks.
Administrative circles, however, played down the controversy, calling it a trivial, fleeting mistake that was immediately corrected and had no impact on the proceedings.
Tina Dabi responds
Responding to the criticism, Dabi clarified that the lapse was entirely unintentional and occurred amid a tightly packed schedule on Republic Day. She noted that the mistake was noticed and rectified instantly, according to reports. Officials emphasised that such momentary slips should not overshadow the smooth conduct of the ceremony.
A public figure since UPSC success
Born in November 1993, Tina Dabi rose to national prominence after securing All India Rank 1 in the 2015 Civil Services Examination at the age of 22. She comes from a family of officers and has remained in the public eye through her career and personal milestones.
The brief Republic Day moment has once again highlighted how closely watched public servants are — and how even a second-long lapse can ignite a nationwide debate online.