New Delhi: The Central government has extended the deputation tenure of 17 Directors of Census Operations (DCO) and Directors of Citizen Registration (DCR) across various states and Union Territories (UTs) as preparations for Census 2027 gain momentum. This decision was taken by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Extended Tenures and Key Appointments
The RGI had earlier instructed all states and UTs to complete the appointment of census functionaries by January 15, 2026, ensuring smooth conduct of the upcoming Census—a critical administrative and demographic exercise.
Some of the key extended tenures include:
- Swadha Dev Singh (IAS: OD: 2014) – RGI (Hqrs.) – extended till 31 March 2030
- Amit Sharma (IAS: AGMUT: 2012) – Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh – extended till 31 March 2030
- Deep Shikha Sharma (IFoS: AGMUT: 2011) – Himachal Pradesh – extended till 22 June 2028
- Nikhil Pavan Kalyan (IAS: OD: 2012) – Odisha – extended till 15 June 2028
- Sujal Jayantibhai Mayatra (IAS: GJ: 2011) – Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli – extended till 20 August 2028
- M Sundaresh Babu (IAS: KN: 2012) – Tamil Nadu & Puducherry – extended till 22 June 2028
- J Nivas (IAS: AP: 2010) – Andhra Pradesh – extended till 19 June 2028
- Purva Garg (IAS: AGMUT: 2015) – Andaman & Nicobar Islands – extended till 10 August 2028
- Cheshta Yadav (IAS: AGMUT: 2014) – Goa – extended till 17 August 2028
- Karma R Bonpo (IAS: SK: 2010) – Sikkim – extended till 25 November 2027
- Bharati Holikeri (IAS: TG: 2010) – Telangana – extended till 5 September 2027
- Lalit Jain (IAS: HP: 2011) – Haryana – extended till 6 December 2026
- Zasekuolie Chusi (IAS: NL: 2011) – Nagaland – extended till 18 December 2026
- Iva Ashish Srivastava (IAS: UD: 2010) – Uttarakhand – extended till 2 April 2026
- Navjot Khosa (IAS: KL: 2012) – Punjab & Chandigarh – extended till 31 March 2026
- Prabhat Kumar (IAS: JH: 2011) – Jharkhand – extended till 31 March 2026
New Appointment:
- Ratan Biswas (IAS: TR: 2013) – newly appointed as DCO/DCR for Tripura for a tenure of three years.
Political and Administrative Context
The Census 2027 takes on heightened political significance following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India. Analysts suggest that the census, along with identity and population-related exercises, aligns with the government’s stated objective of addressing issues related to illegal immigration, sometimes referred to by critics as a precursor to a National Register of Citizens (NRC)-type exercise.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the government’s commitment to identifying “infiltrators” during his Independence Day address on 15 August 2025. The government maintains that these exercises are crucial for ensuring accurate population data and national security.
Administrative Framework
Under the Census Rules, 1990, State governments and local authorities are mandated to appoint various census functionaries. Enumerators may include teachers, clerks, and other government staff, while supervisors are typically senior officers. District Collectors/Magistrates or nominated officers act as Principal Census Officers, overseeing the operations within their jurisdictions.
The extensions and new appointments are aimed at ensuring continuity and smooth execution of Census 2027, which is a major administrative exercise affecting every household in India.
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