Paralympic athlete and Asian Para Games 2026 gold medallist Suvarna Raj is set to become Delhi’s State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities after Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu approved her name from a panel of three candidates recommended by a selection committee.
The appointment is being made under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which provides for a State Commissioner to monitor matters related to the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. The post had remained vacant after the completion of the previous commissioner’s term.
According to the report by Jagran – New Delhi, an earlier selection process started in 2024 did not result in the appointment of a candidate. The Social Welfare Department subsequently invited fresh applications in July 2026. It received 18 applications within the prescribed period, of which 15 candidates were found eligible after scrutiny.
A selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary interviewed 13 eligible candidates on 20 August 2026. The candidates were assessed on their educational qualifications, professional experience, understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities and administrative capabilities. Following the assessment, the committee unanimously forwarded a panel of three suitable candidates to the Lieutenant Governor for consideration.
The Lieutenant Governor then gave final approval to Suvarna Raj’s name. The report identifies Raj as a Paralympic athlete and a gold medallist at the Asian Para Games 2026. Her selection places a sportsperson with direct experience of disability in a statutory position responsible for overseeing rights and welfare-related matters in the national capital.
Section 79 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, provides for the appointment of a State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities. Under the applicable Delhi rules, the position is full-time. The commissioner’s term will run for three years from the date of assuming office or until the office-holder reaches the age of 65, whichever comes first.
The appointment follows a selection process involving the Social Welfare Department, the Chief Secretary-led committee and the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The next formal milestone is Raj taking charge of the post, after which the three-year term specified under the Delhi rules will begin.
