Centre Appoints IAS Awanish Kumar as Census Director for Lakshadweep; IAS Sonal Swaroop Named for Arunachal & Meghalaya

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New Delhi: The Central Government has approved the appointment of IAS officer Awanish Kumar as Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration (DCO/DCR) for Lakshadweep on an additional charge basis.

The order has been issued under the Central Staffing Scheme by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Key Appointment Under Census Operations Framework

Awanish Kumar, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, will hold the post at the Deputy Secretary level.

His appointment will come into effect from the date he assumes charge and will remain valid for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Instructions for Immediate Joining

The government has directed him to take up the assignment at the earliest and inform both the concerned department and the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Separate Appointment for Northeastern States

In a parallel order issued the same day, the Centre has appointed IAS officer Sonal Swaroop as Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration for Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

Tenure and Posting Details

Sonal Swaroop is a 2012-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre. She has been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme for a tenure of three years from the date she assumes charge or until further orders.

The competent authority has directed her immediate relief from her current posting to take up the new assignment.

Strengthening Census and Civil Registration System

Both appointments are part of the government’s administrative restructuring of census operations and citizen registration systems across Union Territories and northeastern states.

These roles are crucial for strengthening data collection, population mapping, and civil documentation frameworks under national governance systems.