Census-2027
As Principal Census Officer, launched the self-enumeration exercise on 17 May 2026 and reviews progress with the Director of Census Operations.
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, IAS
Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag
Government of Jammu & Kashmir
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service. He secured All-India Rank 10 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 and has served in Jammu & Kashmir as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Karnah, and as Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam, Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag districts.
About
Profile
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat is from Kupwara district in North Kashmir. He graduated in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from SKUAST-Jammu in 2010, qualified the J&K Combined Competitive Examination the same year and the Indian Forest Service Examination in 2012, and secured All-India Rank 10 in the Civil Services Examination 2016.
He has held field postings in Jammu & Kashmir since 2019: Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Karnah, and Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam, Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag. His work has covered public health, land records, elections, disaster response, education and youth programmes. District Kulgam received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 for work undertaken during his tenure.
Read the full profileDistrict Anantnag · February 2026 to date
Current Work in Anantnag
Dr Bhat assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner, District Magistrate and District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, on 26 February 2026 under Government Order No. 230-JK(GAD) of 2026. He is concurrently Principal Census Officer for Census-2027, Yatra Officer for the Pahalgam axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, Chairman of the District Task Force for HPV Vaccination, and District Election Officer for the Panchayat electoral-roll revision 2026.
Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026
Yatra Officer for the Pahalgam axis: rate fixation for service providers, base-camp readiness at Nunwan, Chandanwari and Sheshnag, and the flag-off from Nunwan on 3 July 2026.
Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan
A 100-day campaign launched on 11 April 2026: NCORD enforcement, poppy destruction, a mega padyatra and district cricket tournaments as youth outreach.
Mission YUVA
589 cases approved by April 2026; Rs 249 crore disbursed and a 78.5% credit-deposit ratio in district banks by September 2026.
Public Health
HPV vaccination for about 11,000 girls aged 14 to 15 across 14 centres, inaugurated at SDH Achabal on 28 February 2026.
Land Records
Digitisation drive with a public grievance window; 89% of backlog mutations approved by May 2026.
Career
Career Timeline
- 2010
J&K Combined Competitive Examination (KAS)
Rank 22, first attempt
- 2012
Indian Forest Service Examination
All-India Rank 23 · Uttar Pradesh cadre
- 2017
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016
All-India Rank 10 · IAS, 2017 batch
- 2019
Sub-Divisional Magistrate
Karnah-Tangdhar, Kupwara
- 2021
Deputy Commissioner
Kulgam
- 2024
Deputy Commissioner
Srinagar
- 2025
Deputy Commissioner
Budgam
- 2026
Deputy Commissioner
Anantnag (present)
Work
Key Initiatives
Srinagar · August 2024
Chinar Book Festival
Conceived and hosted with the National Book Trust at SKICC. Over 1,000 publishers, 300 stalls and more than one lakh visitors. Declared an annual calendar event.
Source
Kulgam · September 2022
Digitisation of Land Records
273 Jamabandis and over 44,000 records digitised, making Kulgam the second district in the Union Territory to complete the exercise. All public services were online by January 2023.
Source
Srinagar · April to October 2024
General and Assembly Elections 2024
Returning Officer for the 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency and District Election Officer for all eight Assembly constituencies, including home voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Source
Kulgam 2021–22 · Anantnag 2026
Public Health Campaigns
Har Ghar Dastak took Kulgam to 100% COVID-19 vaccination and full AB-PMJAY SEHAT saturation; in Anantnag, an HPV vaccination campaign for about 11,000 girls aged 14 to 15 across 14 centres.
Source
Srinagar · January 2025
SMILE Shelter and Rehabilitation Home
The first shelter and rehabilitation home in Jammu & Kashmir under the Union SMILE scheme, established at Hawal in partnership with the NGO Prayas.
Source
Kulgam · Srinagar · Budgam
Digital Governance Platforms
Madadgar mobile application (2022), the E-Arzi applications-management portal (2024) and the e-Nigrani works-monitoring application (2026) for transparent, time-bound public service delivery.
SourceRecognition
Awards & Recognition
- Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023District Kulgam, holistic development category. Conferred on 17th Civil Services Day, 21 April 2025, for work undertaken during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner.
- Certificate of Achievement, Lieutenant Governor of J&KFor leading Kulgam to ODF Plus (Model) status under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0, 2 October 2023.
- 100% saturation under AB-PMJAY SEHATKulgam among the first three districts in J&K, September 2022.
Publication
Environment and Ecology for UPSC and State Civil Services Examinations
By Dr Bilal M. Bhat, IAS. Second edition, UPSC Guide, 2024. 600 pages, paperback.
Media
Recent News Coverage
Model Youth Gram Sabha held at EMRS Salia
Model Youth Gram Sabha held at EMRS Salia
DC AnantnagRead article
Anantnag Progress Review: DC Bilal Mandates Streamlined NAPS-PRAGATI Execution
Directed departments to monitor NAPS-PRAGATI targets and skill development.
DC AnantnagRead article
DC Anantnag reviews implementation of NAPS-PRAGATI
Reviewed NAPS-PRAGATI apprenticeship scheme, stressed stakeholder coordination.
DC AnantnagRead article
Media
Video Gallery
3:32
DDC Anantnag convenes mega public outreach program at Verinag
DC Anantnag174 views
1:05
DDC Anantnag convenes mega public outreach program at Verinag
DC Anantnag1,104 views
4:22
Public Outreach Programme Held at VerinagAnantnag, Sept 9: DC Anantnag Dr. Bilal
DC Anantnag167 views
11:08
Girls @cricket j&k DC anantnag Bilal Mahuddin
DC Anantnag622 views
Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr Bilal Bhat, IAS?
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat (also written Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat) is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 2017 batch, AGMUT cadre, from Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir. He secured All-India Rank 10 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 and is the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag.
Who is the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag?
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, IAS, has been Deputy Commissioner, District Magistrate and District Development Commissioner of Anantnag since 26 February 2026, under Government Order No. 230-JK(GAD) of 2026.
Which districts has Dr Bilal Bhat served in?
Kupwara (as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Karnah-Tangdhar, 2019 to 2021), and as Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam (2021 to 2024), Srinagar (2024 to 2025), Budgam (2025 to 2026) and Anantnag (2026 to date).
What was Dr Bilal Bhat's UPSC rank and optional subject?
All-India Rank 10 in the Civil Services Examination 2016 with 1,078 marks, in his fourth attempt. His optional subject was Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science. He had earlier qualified the J&K KAS examination (2010) and the Indian Forest Service examination (2012, AIR 23).
Has Dr Bilal Bhat written a book?
Yes. Environment and Ecology for UPSC and State Civil Services Examinations, by Dr Bilal M. Bhat, IAS, published by UPSC Guide; second edition March 2024, 600 pages.
Patience, passion, perseverance and hard work are the key ingredients.