Dr. Rashmi Kamal Appointed as Director of Census Operations and Citizen Registration for West Bengal
In a significant move ahead of the upcoming national demographic survey, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has formally sanctioned the appointment of Dr. Rashmi Kamal, IAS (WB:2006), as the Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) for the state of West Bengal.
This strategic appointment, made under the Central Staffing Scheme, marks Dr. Kamal’s transition to central deputation. According to the official gazette notification, her tenure is set for a duration of three years, effective from January 14, 2026. Based at the headquarters in Kolkata, she will play a pivotal role in spearheading the administrative machinery for the 2027 Census, which is scheduled to commence its first phase of house-listing and housing data collection in April 2026.
A Distinguished Professional Journey: From Medicine to Governance
Dr. Rashmi Kamal brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her new high-stakes assignment. Originally from Bihar, she achieved a rare feat by clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her very first attempt in 2004, joining the premier service in 2006.
Academic Excellence
Medical Degree: M.B.B.S. from the prestigious Patna Medical College, Patna University.
Advanced Studies: Post Graduate degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi.
Proven Administrative Track Record
With nearly two decades of experience within the West Bengal cadre, Dr. Kamal has held several critical positions that demand both technical precision and public trust:
State Secretariat: Served as the Secretary of the Land and Land Reforms and Refugee Relief & Rehabilitation Department, and Secretary of the Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs Department.
District Leadership: Previously served as the District Magistrate (DM) of Paschim Medinipur and held the office of Collector of Kolkata (2013–2016).
Land Management: Her expertise in land records was honed during her tenure as the Director of Land Records and Survey.
Strategic Significance of the Role
The timing of Dr. Kamal’s appointment is particularly crucial. As the Director of Census Operations, she will not only oversee the decennial population count but also manage the sensitive Citizen Registration processes in West Bengal. Her appointment comes at a time of heightened administrative focus on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) applications and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of citizen data.
Beyond her bureaucratic achievements, Dr. Kamal is a multilingual officer—fluent in Bengali, Hindi, and English—and a published author of the book “The Philanderer,” highlighting her multifaceted personality and deep engagement with social and human themes.
