UP to get full-time DGP as panel meets to short-list candidates

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is likely to get a permanent director general of police (DGP) after nearly four years as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) held a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday to finalise a panel of eligible IPS officers for the state police’s top post.The UP government has already forwarded the names of eligible officers to the UPSC in compliance with Supreme Court guidelines governing the appointment of state police chiefs on March 18.Senior officials in the govt confirmed to TOI the development on UPSC panel meeting. The short-listed names for the top post by the UPSC are likely to come in a day or two.The UPSC shortlists three candidates based on seniority, service record, and range of experience before sending the final panel back to the state govt for a final decision.The senior most officer in the list is 1990 batch officer Renuka Mishra, followed by 1991 batch’s Alok Sharma and Piyush Anand, both currently on central deputation. Sharma is the director of the Special Protection Group, while Anand heads the National Disaster Response Force.However, Sharma has less than six months’ tenure left, a criteria required for the selection of DGP.The incumbent DGP, Rajeev Krishna, also figures prominently in the seniority list and is considered a strong contender for continuation.Among the four likely short-listed candidates, Mishra will retire in Feb 2027, Alok Sharma in June 2026 ans Piyush Anand in June 2028. Rajeev has the maximum tenure left as retires in June 2029.Uttar Pradesh has not had a permanent DGP since removal of Mukul Goel in May 2022, following which the state has seen a series of acting DGPs, including DS Chauhan, RK Vishwakarma, Vijaya Kumar, Prashant Kumar and Krishna.Senior officials said that IPS officers on central deputation must obtain a no-objection certificate from the Union ministry of home affairs to be considered for appointment as DGP in their cadre state.Failure to secure clearance or unwillingness to assume the role can render an officer ineligible. The UPSC empanelment committee, headed by its chairperson or a member, includes the Union home secretary or nominee, the state’s chief secretary, the incumbent DGP, and a representative from a central police organisation nominated by the MHA.As per the prescribed criteria, the empanelment process also assesses whether an officer has at least 10 years of experience in key policing domains. These include law and order management at district, zonal or range levels; specialised investigation wings such as CID, Economic Offences Wing, cyber-crime, and anti-corruption units; as well as Intelligence/Special Branch, counter-terror, and security assignments.Experience gained through deputation to premier central agencies is also a crucial factor, including postings in the IB, RAW, CBI, NIA, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, SPG, National Security Guard, Central Armed Police Forces and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.