In a significant administrative move aimed at strengthening the Census and Citizen Registration framework, the Government of India on Monday, June 2, 2025, appointed three IAS officers and one Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer as Directors of Census Operations (DCO) and Directors of Citizen Registration (DCR) across four states and union territories.
The appointments are effective until December 31, 2025, or until further orders, as per the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Officers and Their Postings
The newly appointed officers and their assigned jurisdictions are–
J Nivas (IAS:2010:AP) – Appointed as Director of Census Operations / Director of Citizen Registration (Director level) for Andhra Pradesh.
M Sundaresh Babu (IAS:2012:KN) – Appointed as Director of Census Operations / Director of Citizen Registration (Deputy Secretary level) for Tamil Nadu & Puducherry.
Nikhil Pavan Kalyan (IAS:2012:OR) – Appointed as Director of Census Operations / Director of Citizen Registration (Director level) for Odisha.
Deep Shikha Sharma (IFoS:2011:AGMUT) – Appointed as Director of Census Operations / Director of Citizen Registration (Director level) for Himachal Pradesh.
DoPT Directs Immediate Relieving and Timely Joining
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has communicated the orders to the respective Chief Secretaries, instructing them to relieve the officers immediately for their new postings. In keeping with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) guidelines, the officers must assume their new charges within three weeks of the order’s issuance. Delays could lead to debarment from the Central Staffing Scheme.
Strategic Appointments Ahead of Next Census
These appointments come at a critical juncture as the Government of India prepares for the long-pending Census 2021, which has faced multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical complexities. The roles of DCO and DCR are crucial for overseeing the collection of demographic and citizenship data, ensuring accuracy and compliance with national standards.
The newly appointed officers, with their administrative experience across diverse regions, are expected to play pivotal roles in driving the Census and National Population Register (NPR) initiatives at the state level.
