Major Leadership Reshuffle in Police Establishment: Alok Kumar Mittal to Head BPR&D, Amit Garg Appointed NCRB Director, Sujeet Pandey to Lead SVPNPA
In a significant reshuffle at the highest levels of India’s policing and law enforcement institutions, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of three senior officers to key leadership positions in the country’s police establishment.
The appointments, cleared on the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), involve the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). Together, these institutions play a central role in police modernisation, crime data management, law enforcement training and capacity building across India.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued the official order on July 6, 2026, confirming the appointments of Alok Kumar Mittal, Amit Garg and Sujeet Pandey to their new assignments.
The appointments are expected to strengthen leadership across three of the country’s most important policing institutions at a time when the focus remains on technology-driven policing, criminal justice reforms, cyber security, forensic capabilities and advanced police training.
Alok Kumar Mittal Appointed Director General of BPR&D
The ACC has approved the appointment of Alok Kumar Mittal, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1993 batch from the Haryana cadre, as the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
Mittal is currently serving in his parent cadre. He will assume charge of the post from the date he joins and will continue until June 30, 2029, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The post carries Level 16 of the Pay Matrix, one of the highest ranks in the Government of India’s administrative hierarchy.
BPR&D functions as the country’s premier organisation for police research, reforms and modernisation. It supports state police organisations and central agencies by developing best practices, conducting research, improving policing methods and promoting technological innovation.
The organisation also plays an important role in police training, forensic science, correctional administration and criminal justice reforms. Under Mittal’s leadership, BPR&D is expected to continue advancing initiatives aimed at making policing more efficient, technology-oriented and citizen-centric.
Amit Garg Named Director of NCRB
In another major appointment, the ACC has approved the posting of Amit Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, as the Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Garg is presently serving as Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA).
Interestingly, the government has decided to temporarily upgrade the post of Director, NCRB, to the Director General (DG) level on a personal basis for Amit Garg. This means he will hold the upgraded Level 16 position during his tenure while occupying the office.
He will assume charge from the date of joining and continue until October 31, 2027, the date of his retirement, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
He succeeds Alok Ranjan, a 1991-batch Indian Forest Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, who has been serving as Director of the NCRB.
The National Crime Records Bureau is India’s central repository for crime-related information. It collects, analyses and publishes crime statistics from across the country while also managing several mission-critical databases used by law enforcement agencies.
NCRB is responsible for maintaining the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), facilitating interstate information sharing, strengthening criminal databases, supporting investigations and promoting data-driven policing.
With cybercrime, organised crime and digital investigations becoming increasingly complex, the organisation has emerged as one of the country’s most strategically important policing institutions.
Sujeet Pandey to Head SVPNPA
The ACC has also approved the appointment of Sujeet Pandey, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA).
Pandey is currently serving in his parent cadre and will take charge from the date of joining.
His tenure will continue until July 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He succeeds Amit Garg, who has now been appointed Director of the National Crime Records Bureau.
Located in Hyderabad, SVPNPA is India’s premier police training institution. It is responsible for training Indian Police Service probationers as well as conducting advanced professional courses for senior police officers from across the country.
The academy also undertakes research, leadership development, specialised operational training and capacity-building programmes in emerging areas such as cybercrime, counter-terrorism, internal security, forensic science and modern policing techniques.
Pandey’s appointment comes at a time when policing is rapidly evolving with the increasing use of artificial intelligence, digital forensics, predictive policing tools and advanced investigative technologies.
A Strategic Leadership Transition
The latest appointments represent a carefully planned leadership transition across institutions that collectively shape India’s policing framework.
While BPR&D focuses on policy, research and police reforms, NCRB serves as the country’s data and technology backbone for crime management. SVPNPA, meanwhile, remains the apex institution responsible for preparing and training IPS officers and strengthening leadership within police organisations.
Together, these organisations influence nearly every aspect of policing in India, ranging from officer training and operational doctrine to crime analytics, technology adoption and institutional reforms.
The simultaneous appointments are expected to ensure continuity while bringing experienced officers into roles that demand strategic vision, administrative expertise and operational understanding.
Ministry of Home Affairs Proposal Approved
The appointments were approved following a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which was subsequently cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The official order was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training through a notification signed by Annies Kanmani Joy, Director, on July 6, 2026.
Copies of the order have been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Cabinet Secretariat, the officers concerned and other relevant government departments for necessary action.
Strengthening India’s Police Institutions
The latest ACC decisions reinforce the government’s continuing emphasis on strengthening leadership in institutions that are critical to India’s internal security architecture.
With Alok Kumar Mittal taking charge of police research and modernisation at BPR&D, Amit Garg leading the country’s premier crime data and technology organisation at NCRB, and Sujeet Pandey heading the nation’s foremost police training academy, the three appointments are expected to support ongoing efforts to modernise policing, improve investigative capabilities and enhance professional standards across law enforcement agencies.
As India continues to expand its use of technology in policing while addressing emerging challenges such as cybercrime, organised crime and data-driven investigations, the leadership of these institutions will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of police reforms and internal security.
