Jitendra Kumar Appointed RPF Director General Until March 2030, to Succeed Sonali Mishra
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Jitendra Kumar of the Bihar cadre as the new Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Railway Board. He will be appointed to the senior position at Level-16 of the pay matrix, with his tenure extending until his superannuation on March 31, 2030, subject to the conditions specified in the government order. His tenure will begin from the date he formally assumes charge of the post and will continue until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The appointment was confirmed through an official order issued by the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, on October 14, 2026. The decision follows a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Railways through its Office Memorandum dated October 7, 2026. Kumar will succeed Sonali Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, whose tenure as RPF Director General is scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2026.
Jitendra Kumar to Take Over as RPF Director General
According to the official communication bearing reference number 23/1/2026-EO(SM-I), the ACC has approved the Ministry of Railways’ proposal to appoint Jitendra Kumar as Director General of the Railway Protection Force. The appointment places the Bihar-cadre IPS officer at the head of the security force responsible for protecting railway property and addressing security-related concerns across the Indian Railways network.
The order specifies that Kumar will receive pay at Level-16 of the pay matrix, reflecting the seniority of the position. His tenure has been approved until March 31, 2030, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The period will be calculated from the date on which he formally assumes charge as Director General, rather than automatically beginning on the date of the order.
The appointment is being made in succession to Sonali Mishra, whose tenure is due to end on October 31, 2026. The order identifies the completion of her tenure as the reason for the change at the top of the Railway Protection Force. It does not announce any other posting for Mishra or provide details of her future assignment.
ACC Approves Railway Ministry’s Proposal
The appointment follows the established process for senior-level appointments in the Central Government. The Ministry of Railways submitted its proposal through an Office Memorandum dated October 7, 2026, which was subsequently considered and approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The ACC’s approval was formally communicated through the DoPT order dated October 14, 2026. The order records the approved designation, pay level, tenure conditions and the officer whom Kumar will succeed. It also directs the relevant authorities to take note of the decision and includes a circulation list identifying government offices and officials to whom copies have been sent.
The Ministry of Railways was named as the principal recipient of the order, addressed to Satish Kumar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board, in New Delhi. The communication provides the administrative basis for implementing the appointment in accordance with the terms approved by the ACC.
The order was signed by Annies Kanmani Joy, Director, Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Her designation and official contact number, 24010544, are also mentioned in the communication.
A Senior IPS Officer From the 1993 Batch
Jitendra Kumar belongs to the 1993 batch of the Indian Police Service and is allocated to the Bihar cadre. His appointment as RPF Director General places him in charge of a key security organisation within the Indian Railways system, with responsibilities relating to the protection of railway assets and the maintenance of security in railway premises.
The Railway Protection Force operates under the Ministry of Railways and plays an important role in protecting railway property, infrastructure and other assets. Its responsibilities include preventing and detecting offences involving railway property, taking action under applicable laws and working with other law enforcement agencies on railway-related security matters.
The Director General heads the force at the national level and oversees its broader administrative and operational framework. The position involves leadership of the organisation, coordination with railway authorities and other government agencies, and supervision of measures intended to safeguard railway property and support a secure railway environment.
However, the appointment order does not provide a detailed account of Kumar’s previous postings, operational assignments or achievements during his career. It specifically records his appointment to the Director General’s post, the approved pay level and the tenure conditions.
Sonali Mishra’s Tenure to End on October 31, 2026
Kumar’s appointment comes as Sonali Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, approaches the completion of her tenure as Director General of the Railway Protection Force. According to the ACC order, her tenure will conclude on October 31, 2026, paving the way for the leadership transition.
Mishra and Kumar belong to the same IPS batch, although they come from different state cadres. Her successor’s appointment has been approved in advance of the stated end of her tenure, providing the administrative basis for the change at the top of the force.
The order does not indicate that Mishra’s tenure is being curtailed or that she is being removed before the scheduled date. Instead, it explicitly links Kumar’s appointment to the completion of her tenure on October 31, 2026.
The communication also does not specify whether Kumar will assume charge immediately after that date or on another date determined by the competent authorities. His approved tenure will commence from the actual date of assumption of charge, as stated in the order.
Appointment Approved at Level-16 of the Pay Matrix
One of the key details in the order is the approval of pay at Level-16 of the pay matrix for the Director General’s position. The order specifies this pay level as part of the appointment terms but does not provide a separate salary figure or details of any allowances.
The tenure has been approved until Kumar’s superannuation on March 31, 2030, subject to the condition that further government orders may bring it to an end earlier. This means that the approved period is linked to his retirement date, rather than being defined solely by a fixed number of years from the date of appointment.
Such tenure conditions are important in senior government appointments because the effective period of service in a particular post depends on the formal terms of approval, the date of assuming charge and any subsequent orders issued by the competent authority.
Order Circulated to Senior Government Offices
The appointment order has been circulated to several offices to ensure that the decision is formally communicated across the relevant government departments. Besides the Ministry of Railways, copies have been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the offices of the Home Minister and the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and the Cabinet Secretariat.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs has also been included in the circulation list. A copy was sent to V.S. Dahiya, Joint Secretary (Gaz), in the Ministry of Railways, with reference to the ministry’s earlier Office Memorandum dated October 7, 2026. The officer concerned has also been listed among the recipients.
Other copies have been marked to the Principal Staff Officer to the Secretary (Personnel), the Private Secretary to the Establishment Officer, the Private Secretary to the Deputy Secretary identified in the order, and the Senior Technical Director of the National Informatics Centre in DoPT. The final copy is to be retained in the official guard file.
With the ACC’s approval, Jitendra Kumar’s appointment as Director General of the Railway Protection Force has been formally cleared. He is set to take over from Sonali Mishra following the completion of her tenure, with his appointment extending until March 31, 2030, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
