Legacy of Leadership: 18 Senior IPS Officers Superannuate in January 2026 Following Decades of Distinguished Service
India’s internal security landscape witnessed a significant generational shift on January 31, 2026, as 18 high-ranking Indian Police Service (IPS) officers officially retired from their duties. These officers, representing diverse cadres and specialized units, concluded their careers after decades of managing complex law-and-order challenges, spearheading anti-corruption drives, and modernizing police technology across the country.
This transition is part of a broader bureaucratic cycle that saw a total of 38 senior civil servants (including 20 IAS officers) retire this month.
The Vanguard of Indian Policing: Key Profiles and Achievements
1. Rajeev Kumar (West Bengal Cadre, 1989 Batch)
Retiring as the Director General of Police (DGP) for West Bengal, Rajeev Kumar’s career has been one of the most high-profile in recent Indian history. An IIT Roorkee alumnus, he was celebrated for his technical acumen and investigative depth.
Key Legacy: He led the Special Task Force (STF) during the capture of Maoist leader Chhatradhar Mahato and served as the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Despite political controversies, he is widely credited with modernizing Bengal’s digital intelligence infrastructure.
2. Anjani Kumar (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Cadre, 1990 Batch)
A 1990-batch officer, Anjani Kumar retired as the Director General of Prisons & Correctional Services, Andhra Pradesh. Originally synonymous with the Telangana cadre, he was reallocated to Andhra Pradesh in early 2025.
Key Legacy: Known for his tenure as Hyderabad Police Commissioner, he won the UN Peace Medal twice for his service in Bosnia and was a recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
3. Shashi Bhushan Kumar (SBK) Singh (AGMUT Cadre, 1988 Batch)
An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College and a veteran of the intelligence services, SBK Singh retired after a storied career that included an additional charge as the Commissioner of Delhi Police.
Key Legacy: Singh spent over seven years in the Cabinet Secretariat (R&AW) and served as the DGP for both Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. He is regarded as a “Spiritual Policeman” for his philosophical approach to law enforcement ethics.
4. Abhay Kumar Singh (Tamil Nadu Cadre, 1992 Batch)
Retiring as the Director General of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and having served as interim DGP of Tamil Nadu, Singh was the state’s primary spearhead against administrative corruption.
Key Legacy: His leadership at the DVAC saw several high-profile investigations into institutional corruption. He was honored with a grand farewell parade at Chennai’s Rajarathinam Stadium.
The retirement of these 18 officers creates significant vacancies at the DGP and ADGP levels across several states. These roles are expected to be filled through the empanelment of 1992–1994 batch officers in the coming weeks. The transition marks not just an end of an era for the 1988–1992 batches, but a fresh opportunity for the next generation of police leadership to implement new-age policing strategies.
