IPS Officer Siddh Nath Gupta Gets 6-Month Service Extension as West Bengal DGP and IGP
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a six-month extension in service for senior IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta, allowing him to continue as Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP), West Bengal, beyond his scheduled date of retirement on October 31, 2026. The extension has been approved in the public interest and comes with a relaxation of the applicable service rules.
Gupta, a 1992-batch Indian Police Service officer of the West Bengal cadre, will now continue in the top police leadership position in the state for an additional six months. The decision was conveyed through an official communication issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training on October 6, 2026.
Six-Month Extension Approved by Appointments Committee of Cabinet
According to the government order, the ACC approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking an extension in service for Siddh Nath Gupta. The extension has been granted for a period of six months beyond October 31, 2026, and has been approved in relaxation of Rule 16(1) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
The order makes it clear that the extension has been sanctioned in public interest. This means Gupta will continue in service after reaching his otherwise scheduled date of superannuation, allowing him to remain in charge of the West Bengal Police for the additional period approved by the central government.
The decision represents an important development in the senior police leadership structure of West Bengal. With Gupta continuing for another six months, the state will retain continuity at the highest level of its police administration beyond the officer’s originally scheduled retirement date.
Siddh Nath Gupta to Continue as West Bengal DG and IGP
Siddh Nath Gupta currently serves as DG & IGP, West Bengal, one of the most senior policing positions in the state. In this role, he heads the state police organisation and is responsible for overall police administration, law and order, coordination among different police units and supervision of the force across West Bengal.
His continuation means that he will remain at the helm of the state police during the six-month extension period. The government order specifically approves his extension in service, while his existing designation as DG & IGP is identified in the proposal forwarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
For the West Bengal administration, continuity at the level of the Director General and Inspector General of Police can be significant. The state police handles a wide range of responsibilities, from maintaining public order and preventing crime to managing major security arrangements and coordinating policing operations across districts and specialised units.
Extension Comes After Ministry of Home Affairs Proposal
The latest decision follows a proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which had sought the extension of Gupta’s service. The official communication refers to the Ministry’s Office Memorandum dated September 21, 2026, bearing reference number 45020/15/2026-IPS.II.
The proposal was subsequently considered by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which approved the extension. The approval was formally communicated through the Department of Personnel and Training on October 6.
The process highlights the role of the central government in approving extensions involving senior officers of the All India Services. Since Gupta is an IPS officer and currently occupies the top police position in a state, his continuation beyond the normal retirement date required approval at the appropriate level.
Rule 16(1) Relaxed for the Extension
A notable part of the order is the reference to Rule 16(1) of the AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958. The six-month extension has been approved by relaxing this provision.
The All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 govern various retirement-related matters concerning officers belonging to the All India Services. In Gupta’s case, the Competent Authority has approved continuation beyond the date on which he would ordinarily have retired, with the applicable rule relaxed for this specific purpose.
The order does not provide details of the circumstances or administrative considerations that led to the proposal. It simply records that the extension has been approved in public interest. This wording establishes the official basis on which the service continuation has been sanctioned.
Extension Will Run Beyond October 31, 2026
Gupta was due to retire from service on October 31, 2026. The approved six-month extension will allow him to remain in service after that date.
The order does not state a specific revised retirement date in the text provided, but a six-month extension beyond October 31, 2026 would take his continued service into the following year. The extension therefore ensures that his tenure does not end on the originally scheduled retirement date.
For the West Bengal Police, this means the senior-most leadership position will continue under the existing incumbent during the extension period. It also postpones any immediate requirement to appoint a new officer to succeed Gupta as DG & IGP at the end of October.
A Senior 1992-Batch IPS Officer
Siddh Nath Gupta belongs to the 1992 batch of the Indian Police Service and is an officer of the West Bengal cadre. His career in the state police administration has culminated in his current position as DG & IGP, making him the senior-most police officer in the state’s organisational structure.
As the head of the West Bengal Police, the DG & IGP is responsible for providing overall leadership to the police force. The role requires coordination across a large administrative and geographical area and involves dealing with a broad range of policing and security responsibilities.
Gupta’s continuation will therefore provide administrative stability at the top of the state police hierarchy during the additional six-month period approved by the Centre.
Formal Communication Sent to West Bengal Government
The official communication has been addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a copy sent to several senior government offices and authorities. The distribution includes the Chief Secretary of the Government of West Bengal and the officer concerned.
The communication has also been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the office of the Home Minister and the Minister of State for Personnel, the Cabinet Secretariat and senior officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs. This ensures that the relevant authorities are formally informed of the ACC’s decision.
The order also refers to the Ministry of Home Affairs official responsible for the relevant police division and includes the offices of the Secretary, Department of Personnel and the Establishment Officer. The National Informatics Centre in the Department of Personnel and Training has also been included in the circulation.
Continuity at the Top of West Bengal Police
The six-month extension gives West Bengal continuity in its police leadership beyond the end of October. Gupta will continue to oversee the state’s police administration during the period covered by the approval, subject to the terms of the government order.
The decision also provides the state administration with additional time before a change at the top of the police hierarchy becomes necessary. Instead of a transition immediately after October 31, the existing DG & IGP will remain in service for another six months under the approval granted by the ACC.
At this stage, the order only confirms Gupta’s extension in service. It does not provide details about the eventual succession process or identify who may take over as DG & IGP after the additional six-month period.
ACC Approval Makes Extension Official
The key development is that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the six-month extension proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The decision has been formally communicated through the Secretariat of the ACC and Department of Personnel and Training.
Siddh Nath Gupta, therefore, will continue as DG & IGP of West Bengal beyond October 31, 2026, with his service extended for six months in public interest and with relaxation of Rule 16(1) of the AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958.
The order dated October 6, 2026, marks a significant development in the senior police administration of West Bengal. For the state, the immediate effect is continuity at the top of the police force, while the question of succession to the DG & IGP position will now arise at a later stage after the approved extension period.
