Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has welcomed the Andaman & Nicobar Administration’s move to establish a dedicated Directorate of Information Technology, while simultaneously pressing the Centre to revise age limits for government jobs in the islands, flagging long-standing concerns of youth exclusion and delayed opportunities.
In a statement issued on December 3, the MP said the administration has formally clarified that the process for setting up an independent IT Directorate is already underway. The clarification follows his letter dated May 22, 2025, seeking institutional strengthening of IT governance in the Union Territory.
According to the administration’s response, a detailed work-study has been completed through the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Based on this study, a comprehensive proposal is under consideration, covering restructuring of IT cadres, creation of dedicated posts, budgetary allocation, and measures to strengthen IT governance across departments.
Welcoming the development, Ray said the proposed IT Directorate would significantly enhance digital governance and service delivery in the islands, while also creating new employment and skill-development opportunities for local youth. He described the move as timely, given the growing reliance on digital platforms for administration, public services and citizen engagement.
Parallelly, the MP has written to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister seeking relaxation in the upper age limit for recruitment to Group-B (Non-Gazetted) and Group-C posts under the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. He has urged that the maximum age be fixed at 40 years, with an additional five-year relaxation for permanent residents, on the lines of a recent order issued for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Recalling his earlier communication dated July 26, 2025, Ray expressed concern that the administration has decided to continue with the existing age limits of 18–33 years for males and 18–38 years for females. He argued that these limits disqualify many deserving island youth, particularly in a region where access to higher education is often delayed due to geographic isolation and limited institutional availability.
The MP pointed out that several states and Union Territories, including Ladakh, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and Haryana, have already revised their upper age limits to the 40–42 year range to reflect present-day socio-economic realities and late entry into the job market.
Highlighting the unique challenges of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ray noted the extremely small government job market, high costs associated with seeking opportunities on the mainland, delayed educational pathways and the growing number of qualified candidates losing eligibility due to outdated recruitment norms.
He has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to fix the upper age limit at 40 years for all Group-B (Non-Gazetted) and Group-C posts under the A&N Administration, and to provide a five-year relaxation for permanent residents and local candidates.
Describing the demand as a matter of equity and regional justice, the MP said such special dispensation is essential to restore hope, fairness and confidence among the youth of the islands, many of whom continue to wait for stable employment within the territory.
Together, the twin developments, the proposed IT Directorate and the demand for revised age limits, are being seen as crucial to addressing governance capacity and youth aspirations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
