UPSC Eases Eligibility: 25 Years of Service Enough to Become Police Chief in India

The UPSC has revised the eligibility criteria for the post of police chief, allowing individuals with 25 years of service to be considered. This decision opens new opportunities for additional DGPs in the state, as the previous requirement was 30 years of service. The UPSC introduced these changes to prevent the appointment of retired loyalists and ensure deserving candidates are not excluded due to extended tenures.

Under the new guidelines, candidates must have at least six months of service left to be eligible. Those on central deputation need an NOC from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and individuals unwilling to take on the role of police chief will not be considered. Preference will be given to candidates with a minimum of 10 years of experience in Law and Order, Crime Branch, IB, RAW, and CBI.

The selection process involves a committee comprising the UPSC Chairman, Union Home Secretary, State Chief Secretary, DGP, and Chief of one of the Central Forces. This committee will evaluate the list provided by the state and form a final panel of three members. Appointments can be made from this panel, although in exceptional circumstances, the final panel may consist of fewer than three names.

This change in criteria has stirred anticipation among potential candidates. Eighteen officials, including Harinath Mishra, Ravada Chandrasekhar, Sanjeeb Kumar Patjoshi, TK Vinodkumar, Yogesh Gupta, Manoj Abraham, and H Venkatesh, are in contention for the next DGP post. The extended service tenure of these officers, ranging from July 2025 to June 2031, indicates a diverse pool of experienced candidates for the position.