District Collector
Also called: District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner · Topic: Civil Services: Role, Accountability and Reforms · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 4 "Executive"; Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"; Class 11, Ch 8 "Local Governments"
Meaning
The District Collector is the top government officer in a district. Some states call the post District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner. Warren Hastings created the post in 1772 to handle revenue and law and order. Today it is usually held by an IAS officer. The Collector is the main link between the state government and people in the district.
Example
- From the Community Development Programme (1952) onward, the Collector also coordinated development work.
- The Collector is the District Election Officer.
- Under the Disaster Management Act 2005, the Collector chairs the District Disaster Management Authority.
- In the Aspirational Districts Programme (2018), Collectors lead the work in 112 backward districts.
Don't confuse with
- Indian Administrative Service: the IAS is the service an officer belongs to. The Collector is one post that an IAS officer may hold.