New Delhi: The central government on Monday announced the appointment of Central Prabhari Officers (CPOs) for seven districts under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP), aimed at accelerating development in districts lagging on key socio-economic indicators.
These officers will coordinate with state and central departments to ensure the effective implementation of various schemes and monitor development progress in the assigned districts.
Key Appointments
The newly appointed Central Prabhari Officers and their respective districts are –
Ankita Pandey (IRS-IT:2009) – Director, Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, appointed as CPO for Nicobar (Car Nicobar, Noncowrie), Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Pankaj Srivastava (IRS-IT:2007) – Director, Department of Cooperation, appointed as CPO for West Karbi Anglong (Amri, Chinthong, Socheng), Assam.
Pramod Kumar (IRS-IT:2008) – Director, Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare, appointed as CPO for Karbi Anglong (Nilip, Rongmongwe, Samelangso), Assam.
Vipin Pal Singh (IRSEE:2002) – Director, Department of Housing & Urban Affairs, appointed as CPO for South 24 Parganas (Magra Hat-2, Thakurpukur Mahestola), West Bengal.
Karuna Kumari (IAS:2010:AM) – Director, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, appointed as CPO for Sheopur (Karahal, Sheopur, Vijaypur), Madhya Pradesh.
Alagu Varsini (IAS:2012:TN) – Deputy Secretary, Department of Rural Development, appointed as CPO for Tiruchirappalli (Turaiyur), Tamil Nadu.
Manasa Gangotri Kata (IRS-C&IT:2007) – Director, Department of Financial Services, appointed as CPO for Jogulamba Gadwal (Ghattu), Telangana.
Role and Responsibilities of Central Prabhari Officers
Central Prabhari Officers act as the central government’s nodal representatives in the Aspirational Districts. Their primary responsibilities include –
- Coordinating development initiatives and monitoring progress in critical sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
- Facilitating convergence between central schemes and state-level programs.
- Identifying bottlenecks in implementation and reporting directly to the NITI Aayog and other concerned authorities.
- Ensuring timely execution of projects to improve district rankings under the Aspirational District Programme.
Aspirational District Programme: Driving Development
Launched in 2018 by NITI Aayog, the Aspirational District Programme focuses on improving outcomes in districts that have historically lagged on key development indicators such as health, education, and infrastructure. The programme prioritizes rapid transformation through coordinated efforts between central and state authorities, with measurable outcomes and real-time monitoring.
