Punjab Transfers Seven Senior IPS Officers: Four 1995-Batch Officers Elevated to DGP Rank, Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain Gets Railways Charge
The Punjab government has reshuffled seven senior IPS officers, assigning key responsibilities in the Anti-Gangster Task Force, Counter Intelligence, State Armed Police, Railways and Law and Order. Four 1995-batch officers – Promod Ban, Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui, Amit Prasad and G. Nageswara Rao – have also been elevated to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP).
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has ordered a major reshuffle involving seven senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, bringing significant changes to the leadership of several important wings of the state police, including the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Counter Intelligence, State Armed Police and Railways.
The transfer and posting orders were issued by the Department of Home Affairs, Punjab, on November 7, 2026, on administrative grounds and with immediate effect. All the officers have been directed to assume their new responsibilities without delay.
The reshuffle also coincides with the elevation of four 1995-batch IPS officers – Promod Ban, Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui, Amit Prasad and G. Nageswara Rao – to the Director General of Police (DGP) rank.
Seven IPS Officers and Their New Postings
The latest government order assigns the following responsibilities to the seven officers:
- Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain: Appointed Special DGP, Railways, Punjab, while retaining the additional charge of Special DGP, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Patiala.
- Anita Punj: Will continue as Special DGP, Human Resource Development (HRD) and Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, and has additionally been assigned the charge of Special DGP, Human Rights, Punjab.
- Promod Ban: Appointed Special DGP, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab.
- Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui: Appointed Special DGP, State Armed Police (SAP), Jalandhar Cantonment.
- Amit Prasad: Appointed Special DGP, Counter Intelligence, Punjab.
- G. Nageswara Rao: Appointed Special DGP, Provisioning, Punjab, with additional charge of Special DGP, Modernisation.
- Gautam Cheema: Appointed ADGP, Law and Order, Punjab.
Who Are the Seven IPS Officers?
- Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds a Master of Commerce degree and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. His academic and professional qualifications also include an MDPM and a PhD.
Before the latest reshuffle, he was serving as Special DGP, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Patiala. Under the new arrangement, Jain has been assigned the additional responsibility of Special DGP, Railways, Punjab, while continuing to hold his existing PSPCL charge.
- Anita Punj
Anita Punj is a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. Her educational qualifications include a BA (Honours), an MA in Police Administration and an LLB degree.
She has held several important assignments during her career, including serving as Director of the Punjab Police Academy (PPA), Phillaur. According to a 2017 report by The Tribune, she became the first woman officer to head the institution. She subsequently served as ADGP-cum-Director of the academy.
Before the latest order, she was serving as Special DGP, Human Resource Development and Welfare, Punjab. She will retain this responsibility while additionally overseeing the Human Rights portfolio as Special DGP.
- Promod Ban
Promod Ban is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree. He has served in several significant positions within the Punjab Police, with experience spanning intelligence, modernisation, special crimes and security-related assignments.
His previous responsibilities include assignments in Counter Intelligence, Modernisation and the security establishment associated with the Chief Minister. He also served as ADGP, Special Crimes and Economic Offences. Under the latest reshuffle, Ban has been appointed Special DGP of the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab, following his elevation to the DGP rank.
- Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui
Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds a master’s degree. During his career, he has served in several district-level and operational positions, including Superintendent of Police in Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Faridkot, Khanna and Mansa.
He has also served on deputation with the Border Security Force (BSF), including as Inspector General of the Tripura Frontier. Before the latest appointment, Farooqui was awaiting a posting following his promotion. He has now been assigned the responsibility of Special DGP, State Armed Police, Jalandhar Cantonment.
- Amit Prasad
Amit Prasad is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds a Master of Arts degree. He has held several important positions in the state’s internal security and intelligence establishment. His previous assignments include responsibilities in Counter Intelligence and the Organised Crime Control Unit.
According to media reports, he was also empanelled for Director General-level positions at the Centre in 2026. In the latest reshuffle, Prasad has been appointed Special DGP, Counter Intelligence, Punjab, following his elevation to the DGP rank.
- G. Nageswara Rao
Gollapalli Nageswara Rao is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He has served in several important administrative and investigative positions during his career.
Among his notable assignments was his tenure as Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau from April 2017 to July 2019. He also served as Secretary in the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Punjab, in 2020.
Rao has additionally served on deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). His professional recognitions include the United Nations Medal for his service with the UN Mission in Kosovo in 2004, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Before the latest reshuffle, he was serving as ADGP, Provisioning, Punjab. He has now been elevated to the DGP rank and appointed Special DGP, Provisioning, with additional responsibility for Modernisation, Punjab.
- Gautam Cheema
Gautam Cheema is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds MA and MPhil qualifications. During his career, he has handled several important assignments within the Punjab Police, including serving as Inspector General of Police, Crime, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, and IGP, Special Operations Group (SOG), Patiala. Under the November 7 administrative order, Cheema has been appointed ADGP, Law and Order, Punjab.
Punjab Government Directs Immediate Implementation
The Punjab government has directed all seven officers to take charge of their respective assignments immediately. The transfer and posting order was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Alok Shekhar (IAS: 1994: Punjab cadre), Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs.
The reshuffle brings several key police establishments under new leadership, with particular significance for the state’s anti-gangster operations, intelligence network, armed police and law-and-order administration.
