High-five! UP cadre IPS officers at helm of 5 major central forces

Lucknow: With the appointment of Sanjay Singhal, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the new director general of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the UP IPS cadre achieved a remarkable distinction of five of its officers heading major central forces.This elite group includes Safi Ehsan Rizvi as the DG of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Daljeet Chaudhary as the DG of the Border Security Force (BSF), Alok Sharma as the DG of the Special Protection Group (SPG), Piyush Anand as DG of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Sanjay Singhal as DG-designate of the SSB.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday approved Singhal's elevation. Currently serving as Special Director General in the BSF, he is set to assume office on Sept 1, following the retirement of incumbent DG Amrit Mohan Prasad on Aug 31. Singhal will hold the post until his retirement on Dec 31, 2028, or until further orders.Singhal's appointment marks not just a personal milestone but a broader institutional recognition for Uttar Pradesh's contribution to national policing.Former UP DGP Vikram Singh, speaking to TOI, called it a moment of immense pride not only for the state but also for the Indian Police Service at large.He noted that this is after many years that five IPS officers from the same cadre have been entrusted with leadership of central paramilitary and elite forces — a reflection of both the depth of talent and the professionalism within the UP cadre.Sanjay Singhal earned a reputation for integrity, administrative acumen, and operational expertise. He is known for his deep understanding of police regulations and national security frameworks. Between 2008 and 2015, he served with distinction in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) — the force tasked with guarding India's frontier with China — as deputy inspector general and later inspector general.Back in Uttar Pradesh, Singhal held critical roles, including that of inspector general, director general of police (GSO to DGP), additional director general (ADG) Crime, ADG Railways, and ADG Establishment between 2015 and 2024. He also served as superintendent of police in several districts and commanded multiple battalions of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).Singhal is a recipient of both the police medal and the President's police medal.Singhal's new posting as DG SSB comes at a strategic juncture, as the force plays a vital role in guarding India's borders with Nepal and Bhutan, said a senior officer.

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