New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Gujarat cadre IAS officer Anupam Anand (IAS:2000:GJ) as Joint Secretary in the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), Ahmedabad.
The appointment, issued through a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order on January 14, 2026, is for a tenure of five years or until further orders, effective from the date he assumes charge.
Mr Anand, currently serving in his parent cadre of Gujarat as Transport Commissioner, will succeed Lochan Sehra (IAS:2002:GJ), who had been serving as Joint Secretary in IN-SPACe since October 2022. Although Sehra’s tenure was originally scheduled to end in October 2027, he was prematurely repatriated in December 2025, creating a vacancy for the new appointment.
Background of Anupam Anand
Mr Anand is a 2000-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre with extensive administrative experience in transport, infrastructure, and governance. His new role in IN-SPACe will involve policy formulation, regulatory oversight, and promotion of India’s private space sector, contributing to the government’s efforts to expand domestic space activities and foster innovation in space technology.
Bishnu Charan Mallick’s Deputation Extended in Rajasthan
The Centre has also approved a three-month extension of the deputation tenure of IAS officer Bishnu Charan Mallick (IAS:2007:RJ) as Director of Census Operations (DCO)/Director of Citizen Registration (DCR), Rajasthan, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The extension, sanctioned by the ACC through a DoPT order dated January 14, 2026, prolongs his tenure until March 31, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Mallick has been serving in the role since December 2020, initially appointed for a three-year term. He received a prior extension in November 2023, which was to conclude on December 31, 2025. This latest order ensures continuity in Rajasthan’s citizen registration and census operations, especially critical ahead of upcoming demographic exercises.
Significance of the Appointments
Anupam Anand will play a pivotal role in promoting India’s private space sector through IN-SPACe, overseeing policy and regulatory frameworks to boost innovation and collaboration.
Bishnu Charan Mallick’s extension provides administrative stability in Rajasthan for ongoing citizen registration and census activities, ensuring uninterrupted governance.
These appointments reflect the government’s emphasis on leveraging experienced IAS officers for strategic administrative roles at both central and state levels.
