Sri Vijaya Puram, Sep 15: Dr Dinesh Sharma on Tuesday took oath as the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a ceremony held at Lok Niwas in Sri Vijaya Puram, formally beginning a new chapter in the administration of the Union Territory.
The oath-taking ceremony marked the transition from the tenure of retired Admiral D. K. Joshi, who served as Lieutenant Governor from October 2017, to the new administration under Dr Sharma.
At the ceremony, the appointment notification issued by President Droupadi Murmu was read out, stating that Dr Sharma had been appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with effect from the date on which he assumes charge of the office.
The notification was issued by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on September 5, 2026.
Following the reading of the notification, Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge, Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Sharma.
Dr Sharma brings experience spanning education, academia, local administration and public life. During the Doordarshan broadcast, he was introduced as a teacher, academic, municipal administrator, elected representative, minister and Member of Parliament.
Born on January 12, 1960, Dr Sharma has had a long association with education and academic institutions before entering active public life. His experience in local administration and governance has also formed an important part of his public career.
His appointment comes at a significant point for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a strategically important Union Territory with a geographically dispersed population and unique administrative requirements.
The new Lieutenant Governor will take charge of an administration dealing with a wide range of issues concerning development and public services across the islands. Connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, employment and access to essential services remain among the issues that directly affect island residents.
The transition also marks the conclusion of Admiral D. K. Joshi’s tenure, which began in October 2017. With Dr Sharma assuming office, the Union Territory now enters a new phase under a Lieutenant Governor with experience across academic, administrative and political spheres.
The oath-taking ceremony marked the formal assumption of Dr Sharma’s constitutional responsibilities and his entry into the administrative leadership of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
