The Union Home Ministry has appointed 2006-batch IAS officer Rashmi Kamal as the new Director of Census Operations for West Bengal. This key administrative posting comes as the central government prepares for upcoming national census operations.
A Seasoned Administrator Takes Charge
Rashmi Kamal, who was previously serving as the Secretary of the Paschimanchal department in the state administration, has now taken on this critical role. Her appointment follows the tenure of Kaushick Saha, who served as the Census Director between February 2023 and October 2025. During this period, the position was also held by Nikhil Pavan Kalyan.
Timing Coincides with CAA and Citizenship Processes
Officials have indicated that the timing of Kamal's posting is particularly significant. It occurs against the backdrop of a notable rise in applications for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Furthermore, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is currently underway in the state.
This SIR process is especially focused on applicants who had migrated from Bangladesh. As part of this procedure, citizenship certificates are issued by the office of the Director of Census, the position now held by Rashmi Kamal. This places her at the helm of a sensitive and closely watched administrative process.
Preparations for the National Census
The appointment is a strategic move by the central government as it gears up for the massive exercise of the national census. The Director of Census in a state plays a pivotal role in coordinating and executing the ground-level data collection, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
With her experience in senior bureaucratic roles, Kamal is expected to oversee these preparations in Bengal, a state with complex demographic patterns. Her leadership will be crucial in managing both the routine census work and the specific, ongoing citizenship-related revisions.
The move underscores the administrative importance of the census machinery, especially in regions with specific historical migration patterns. All eyes will now be on how the new director navigates these dual responsibilities in the coming months.
