The Uttar Pradesh Police has scripted a new chapter in its institutional history with the appointment of Aparna Kumar, a 2002-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as Joint Commissioner of Police, Lucknow. With this posting, she becomes the first woman officer to assume this senior command role in the state capital’s police hierarchy.
Renowned not only for her administrative acumen but also for her global reputation as a high-altitude mountaineer, Aparna Kumar’s elevation symbolises the rise of a leader who has consistently blended courage, discipline and excellence in both professional policing and extreme adventure sports.
A Career That Mirrors the Spirit of Adventure
Despite serving in one of the country’s most demanding police cadres, Aparna Kumar has carved a unique global identity by becoming the first civil servant to complete the coveted “Seven Summits” challenge—climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents.
Her expedition milestones include summiting Mount Everest in 2016, trekking to the South Pole while carrying 35 kilograms of equipment despite suffering from pneumonia, and scaling Mount Denali in North America, completing the Seven Summits mission within a span of six months.
These feats earned her prestigious national honours, including the Rani Lakshmi Bai Puraskar in 2015 and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2018.
Personal and Professional Background
Born on August 30, 1974, in Karnataka, Aparna Kumar is a law graduate from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. She cleared the Civil Services Examination in her very first attempt and joined the IPS in 2002.
Apart from becoming the first Indian woman IPS officer to conquer the Seven Summits, she also made history in 2019 as the first woman IPS officer to trek to the South Pole.
In her policing career, she has held several landmark assignments, including serving as the first woman Director of the ITBP Academy — a milestone in the force’s six-decade history.
A Trail of Historic Firsts
Her list of achievements continues to expand:
• First IPS officer to complete the Seven Summits
• Mentor to the first ITBP expedition that hoisted the national flag atop Mount Balbala in 2021
• First woman Director of the ITBP Academy
• First woman Joint Commissioner of Police, Lucknow
She assumed the Lucknow posting shortly after returning from completing her Master’s degree in Law from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to this, she was serving as Inspector General in the Human Rights Department.
Vision as Joint Commissioner of Police
Aparna Kumar has articulated a forward-looking vision for her new role. Her key priorities include:
• Transparent and impartial investigations
• Increased use of forensic science and technology in policing
• Data-driven law enforcement to enhance conviction rates
• Balancing firm policing with constitutional and human rights safeguards
Her prior district experience as Superintendent of Police in Firozabad, Hamirpur, Sitapur and Chitrakoot, along with her service in specialised wings such as Intelligence, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Telecom, equips her with deep operational insight.
She has also served as Sports Secretary of the UP Police Board, highlighting her leadership across diverse administrative domains.
Mentorship and Modernisation
Senior police officials believe Aparna’s exposure to international policing systems and her interaction with global law-enforcement agencies will accelerate the modernisation of investigative practices in Lucknow.
Even while holding senior command responsibilities, she remains deeply committed to mentoring young officers and encouraging women aspirants to pursue excellence in public service alongside personal passions.
An Enduring Inspiration
Aparna Kumar represents the embodiment of courage, discipline and visionary leadership. Her journey from the world’s highest peaks to the command corridors of Lucknow Police serves as a powerful inspiration for the next generation of women leaders in uniform.
