Centre extends tenure of Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan amidst Census delay

“The appointments committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Narayan, and the appointment of Vashista as Special Secretary,” stated a Ministry of Personnel order, issued on October 15.

The committee has extended the tenure of Narayan beyond December 6, 2024, for a period up to August 4, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Narayan has served in various capacities within the Indian administrative system, showcasing his expertise.

The Centre, in its Budget for the current fiscal has drastically cut down the allocation for Census to Rs 1,564 crore from Rs 3,676 crore in 2021.

“Census, survey and statistics/RGI, includes provisions for the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India and various schemes of RGI, including National Population Register and expenditure on Census, 2021. In 2021-22, a budget of Rs 505.12 crore was allocated, and Rs 3,276 was allocated in the last budget, but it was later revised,” according to the budget.

Meanwhile, Praveen Vashista, who will succeed Sivagami Sundari Nanda in the Ministry of Home Affairs on her superannuation on December 31, is a 1991-batch Indian Police Service officer. His service will be up to July 31, 2026, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.