The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has appointed IAS officer Swadha Dev Singh (IAS:2014:OD) as the new Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) in the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), New Delhi.
The appointment, made under the Central Staffing Scheme, has been cleared at the Deputy Secretary level by the Competent Authority.
Appointment Tenure and Posting
As per the official order issued on September 26, 2025, Singh will serve in her new role until December 31, 2025, with the possibility of extension as per Central Staffing norms or until further instructions. Prior to this assignment, she was Additional Secretary in the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department (PR & DW) in Odisha.
The DoPT has instructed the Odisha government to relieve Singh promptly so she can assume her responsibilities in New Delhi without delay.
Premature Repatriation of Kaushick Saha
In a parallel development, the DoPT has ordered the premature repatriation of Kaushick Saha (IAS:2010:WB) to his parent cadre in West Bengal. Saha, who had been serving as DCO/DCR at the RGI since February 2023, was originally scheduled to continue until December 31, 2025. However, his tenure has been curtailed on administrative grounds, following approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The repatriation order was formally issued on September 25, 2025.
Role of the Registrar General of India
The Registrar General of India oversees critical functions such as the decennial census and nationwide citizen registration, both of which serve as the backbone for data-driven policymaking and governance. Positions like DCO and DCR are pivotal in managing these complex, large-scale operations.
Looking Ahead
Swadha Dev Singh’s appointment represents an important leadership shift at the RGI, with expectations that her experience in governance and administration will help steer census and registration activities with greater efficiency. Meanwhile, the early return of Kaushick Saha underscores the dynamic nature of cadre management and staffing decisions in India’s civil services.
