Anand Swaroop Appointed Special Secretary; Anupama Nilekar Takes NHRC Role

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially appointed senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Anand Swaroop as the new Special Secretary for Internal Security. This decision comes as Praveen Vashista steps down from the position. The announcement was made through a government order on January 9, 2024.

Anand Swaroop, who belongs to the 1992 batch of the IPS from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently serves as the Director General (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). His new role as Special Secretary will begin once he assumes charge and will last until August 31, 2029, when he reaches the age of superannuation, unless further orders are issued.

In a related move, the ACC has appointed Anupama Nilekar Chandra, a 1994-batch IPS officer and currently serving as Special Director General at Sashastra Seema Bal, as the new Director General (Investigation) at the NHRC. She will take over Swaroop’s previous responsibilities in this significant position.

These appointments reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance internal security management and uphold human rights standards through experienced leadership. The ACC’s decisions are pivotal as they shape the future of security policy and investigation processes within India’s law enforcement framework.

Anand Swaroop’s extensive experience within various capacities in the IPS, combined with Anupama Nilekar Chandra’s qualifications, are expected to contribute positively to their respective roles. As they step into these significant positions, both officers are poised to influence the direction of security and human rights in India effectively.