Punjab gets youngest IAS officer as CEO; second woman to hold post, only couple to serve in same role
Kanwar Inder singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 15,2026
Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Punjab cadre 2007 IAS Anandita Mitra as the chief electoral officer (CEO), Punjab.
She is going to replace Sibin C, IAS of 2007 batch. Sibin C was appoinred CEO Punjab in February 2023. Now, Sibin C has proceeded on central deputation as a joint secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Sibin served on this post for almost three years.
Anandita Mitra’s husband S. Karuna Raju, IAS also remained CEO, Punjab before Sibin C. Raju is presently on deputation to his home state.
Anandita Mitra, IAS has been selected by the commission for the CEO’s post from a panel of three IAS officers submitted by the state government, according to a communication sent by ECI principal secretary Rahul Sharma to Punjab chief secretary KAP Sinha, IAS.
Earlier a woman IAS officer of 1979 batch Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu remained CEO Punjab. While serving as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, she had successfully managed the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the 2012 state assembly polls.
Anandita Mitra, IAS is presently serving as Administrative Secretary, Higher Education & Languages and in addition Administrative Secretary, School Education and in addition Managing Director, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. She has served as SDM in Ropar, Additional Deputy Commissioner in Patiala, Deputy Commissioner in Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur, Director of Food & Civil Supplies, Director Information and Public Relations, Secretary Cooperation & MD Punjab State Cooperative Bank
She remained Chandigarh’s Municipal Commissioner (2021–2024). On 23 August 2021, Anindita Mitra was appointed as Municipal Commissioner of Chandigarh through inter-cadre deputation to the AGMUT cadre.
