Andrew Lalchhandama, from Nursery Veng in Aizawl, Mizoram, is the son of C. Vanlaltluanga. He qualified for the Indian Information Service (IIS) in July 2025 — a milestone local media described as the first Mizo selection in nearly two decades; a follow-up feature clarified he is the first in 43 years to qualify via the UPSC Group B gazetted route.
The IIS is India’s central government communications cadre. Officers serve across units such as Doordarshan, All India Radio and the Press Information Bureau, acting as media managers and spokespersons. The service has Group A and Group B cadres; recruitment rules and the remit are set by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and outlined on the IIS portal.
Since 2015, Andrew has worked at Doordarshan Kendra Aizawl, serving as assistant news editor and regularly anchoring or hosting live current-affairs talk shows. EastMojo’s profile highlights this newsroom experience alongside his academic work.
He studied Mass Communication and Journalism at Mizoram University, completing a master’s degree (2012–2014) and pursuing a PhD in the Department of Mass Communication. His doctoral topic has been reported as “The Evolution of Sports Journalism in Mizoram: A Chronological Analysis.”
Coverage describes Andrew as musically inclined: he plays guitar and serves as bandmaster at the Salvation Army church in Aizawl, balancing church duties with work and study.
In July 2025, he and a friend launched Inmi Hydration Drink, described as Mizoram’s first hydration-drink start-up, which remains in early marketing and development.
His selection drew congratulations from institutions and public figures. Mizoram University publicly lauded the achievement, and Chief Minister Lalduhoma amplified the news on official social channels; EastMojo chronicled the wave of messages after the UPSC result.
IIS Group B (senior grade) recruitment is run by the UPSC, distinct from the junior grade through the Staff Selection Commission. Induction training for IIS officers is delivered by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).
Early copy on 5 August 2025 framed the feat as the first Mizo selection “after two decades.” A longer feature on 12 August 2025 clarified the 43-year gap for the Group B gazetted route, noting former MP C. Lalrosanga achieved this in the 1982 batch and that only a handful of Mizos have entered IIS via different pathways.
Beyond EastMojo’s reporting, Andrew’s research presence appears on scholarly platforms such as ResearchGate and Academia. While not primary news sources, these pages reflect the media-research trajectory described in EastMojo’s profiles.
