Ranchi, Dec 6 (IANS): The announcement of the appointment of Sushma Singh as the country's Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) was warmly welcomed in her home state Jharkhand, Friday.

The announcement that Singh, the senior-most information commissioner in the country, has been made CIC was made Thursday. She will take over from Deepak Sandhu.

Sushma Singh was born in Ranchi and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1972. She did her schooling and graduation from Ranchi.

After the division of Bihar and the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, Sushma Singh joined the Jharkhand cadre, working in different capacities including home secretary.

"She is now a role model for Jharkhand's girls. Being a woman, we feel proud of her elevation to one of the top posts of the country," Mahua Majee, chairperson of Jharkhand Women Commission, told IANS.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and several social organisations also welcomed the appointment of Sushma Singh as CIC.

"Jharkhand women have succeeded in different fields. Jharkhand has produced many national-level women hockey players. Sushma Singh's appointment will goad more of our young girls to take to a career in the civil services," Ravi Bhatt, social media convenor of the Jharkhand unit of the BJP, told IANS.

State government spokesperson Shailesh Sinha said: "She was a good officer. This is a proud moment for the state. She was born in Ranchi and studied here. She will inspire girls in a state in which girls' education is cause for concern."