A Deputy Collector, often abbreviated to DC, is a State Administrative Service officer in charge of revenue collection and administration of a sub-division in India. Since Deputy Collectors are also empowered as executive magistrates, the post is also referred to as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the office-bearer works under the direction of a District Collector and assists him in day to day working. The Collectorate play a pivotal role in the District administration. Collector in the Cadre of I.A.S heads the District. He/She acts as the District Magistrate for maintaining Law and Order in his/her jurisdiction. He/She deals mainly with Social Security Schemes, Land Matters and arms licensing etc.The Additional Collector/ District Revenue Officer runs the Revenue administration under various enactments in the District. He/She is also designated as Additional District Magistrate. He mainly deals with civil supplies, land matters, mines and minerals, village officers etc. Deputy Collectors / Deputy District Collectors is usually a tehsildars who report into the District Revenue Officer who is also called the Additional District Collector and is the overall in-charge of revenue department for the district, DRO in turn reports into the District Collector who is in-charge of overall management of the district across all departments. Deputy Collectors are hired through State's Service Selection Commission, where as DRO and District Collector are usually Centre Civil Services employees appointed to the state cadre.
Selection
Deputy collectors are selected through competitive examinations conducted by Public Service Commission of the respective states. PSC recommends the officers as required by the state government. Deputy collector is the highest rank post filled through direct recruitment conducted by PSC.
Posting
Deputy collectors are posted at various key posts under the Government. e.g.
Assistant Returning Officer during Loksabha elections
Responsibilities
Deputy Collectors are gazzeted officers and they get their powers from various acts such as Land Revenue code, Criminal Procedure Code and other acts made by Parliament and state legislatures from time to time. They have versatile nature of duties as given below.
