IAS Swapneel Paul selected for the PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration

The district of Tinsukia has been selected for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 in the category of “Holistic Development of Districts”, recognising its remarkable all-around progress under the leadership of District Commissioner IAS Swapneel Paul. The award will be presented by the Prime Minister of India on April 21, 2025, during the Civil Services Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Only five districts from across the country have been selected in this category, which evaluates performance in implementing 11 key flagship schemes of the Government of India over the past two years. These include Har Ghar Jal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin and Urban), Mission Indradhanush, Ayushman Bharat – PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), PM SVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Kisan Credit Card Scheme for farmers, animal husbandry and fisheries, PM Vishwakarma, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

At the heart of Tinsukia’s transformation is Paul’s vision of making it a model district that balances development with sustainability. One of his standout achievements has been the elimination of 1.53 lakh metric tons of legacy waste through biomining and bioremediation, making Tinsukia the first district in Northeast India to become legacy waste-free. This effort, which freed 50 acres of land, had earlier earned Paul The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Award in the Swachhata category last month.

Paul, an IAS officer from the 2018 batch of Assam cadre, has also been lauded for resolving a long-pending law and order issue by rehabilitating 163 families displaced from Laika inside Dibru-Saikhowa National Park to safer areas in Namphai RF. This humanitarian effort won him the Assam Karmashree Award in 2024.

His conservation efforts have made headlines as well—especially his initiative to protect the endangered Hoolock Gibbons of Barekuri by replacing dangerous power lines with 20 km of insulated electric wiring, a move later appreciated in PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

He is also leading the ‘Weed to Wealth’ initiative that turns invasive water hyacinths into eco-friendly, marketable products—an innovative blend of environmental conservation and rural entrepreneurship.

From Lakhipur in Cachar district, Paul’s family eventually settled in Dimapur. A Sylheti by heritage, he did his schooling from Holy Cross School, Dimapur, and Army School, Narangi. He ranked sixth in the state in his Class 10 exams, graduated in Electrical Engineering 2012 batch from NIT Silchar, and later moved to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

With a strong foundation in Barak Valley and a commitment to inclusive growth, Swapneel Paul’s journey reflects the power of dedicated governance to transform communities, one milestone at a time.