Madhya Pradesh DGP Race: State Sends 12-Member IPS Panel to UPSC; Pragya Richa Srivastava Emerges as Frontrunner
With incumbent Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana set to retire on November 30, 2026, the race to head Madhya Pradesh’s police force has intensified. The state government has forwarded a list of 12 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to finalize a panel of three names for the top post.
The high-level UPSC panel meeting is slated for the first week of November in New Delhi, where the shortlist will be prepared under Supreme Court guidelines established in the Prakash Singh case.
Key Contenders in the Spotlight
Among the 12 names recommended by the state administration, three senior 1991-batch IPS officers have emerged as the primary frontrunners:
Pragya Richa Srivastava (IPS: 1991: MP): Currently serving as the Director General of Home Guards and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), Srivastava is the leading contender. If selected, she will make history as Madhya Pradesh’s first woman Director General of Police. Her extensive service includes heading the Women Safety wing and managing critical disaster response operations.
Varun Kapoor (IPS: 1991: MP): Serving as the Director General of Prisons, Kapoor is the senior-most officer among the frontline contenders. Widely recognized for pioneering cyber safety awareness campaigns—such as Project Cy-Cops and the Black Ribbon Initiative—he brings extensive administrative and technological expertise.
Upendra Jain (IPS: 1991: MP): Head of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and former Managing Director of the Police Housing Corporation, Jain is noted for his specialized investigative background in financial crimes and white-collar corruption.
Full Panel of Nominated Officers
Aside from the top three contenders, the 12-member panel submitted to the UPSC features several other seasoned officers from subsequent batches:
Pankaj Shrivastava (IPS: 1992: MP)
Adarsh Katiyar (IPS: 1992: MP)
G. Akheto Sema (IPS: 1992: MP)
Anil Kumar (IPS: 1993: MP)
Ravi Gupta (IPS: 1993: MP)
Anand Kumar Singh (IPS: 1994: MP)
Manmeet Singh Narang (IPS: 1994: MP)
Rajababu Singh (IPS: 1994: MP)
D.P. Gupta (IPS: 1994: MP)
Selection Outlook
Following the UPSC screening meeting in November, the Commission will return a shortlisted panel of three eligible officers to the state government. The final appointment of Madhya Pradesh’s next DGP is expected to be finalized by the second week of November.
