Anusuya To Anukathir Surya: Centre Permits IRS Officer To Officially Change Name, Gender

In a historic first for Indian civil services, the Ministry of Finance has approved the request of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer to change both name and gender in official records. The officer, 35-year-old M Anusuya, who serves as Joint Commissioner in the office of the Chief Commissioner (Authorised Representative) of the Customs Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in Hyderabad, has requested to change her name to M Anukathir Surya and her gender from female to male.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru Traffic Police Issues Advisory Due To Panathur Railway Underpass Construction; Check Alternate Routes

An office order from the Department of Revenue (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs), Ministry of Finance, announced that Anusuya’s request has been approved. The officer will "henceforth be recognised as Mr M Anukathir Surya in all official records".

"The request of Ms M Anusuya has been considered. Henceforth, the officer will be recognised as 'Mr M Anukathir Surya' in all official records" NDTV reported quoting the order copy.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Surya began his career as an Assistant Commissioner in Chennai in December 2013 and was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2018. He assumed his current position in Hyderabad last year.

Mr Surya earned a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication from the Madras Institute of Technology in Chennai. He completed a PG Diploma in Cyber Law and Cyber Forensics from the National Law Institute University in Bhopal in 2023.