ACC Clears Major Security Leadership Changes: Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat Elevated in SPG, Sanjay Singhal Gets Apex Scale, Vidhi Kumar Birdi Returns to CRPF as IG
Centre Approves Key Security Appointments: Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat Promoted in SPG, SSB Chief Sanjay Singhal Awarded Apex Scale, Vidhi Kumar Birdi Appointed CRPF Inspector General
New Delhi: In a significant round of appointments affecting India’s top security and policing institutions, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a series of important personnel decisions involving senior Indian Police Service officers serving in the country’s premier security organizations.
The latest approvals include the elevation of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat within the Special Protection Group (SPG), the grant of the coveted Apex Pay Scale to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Sanjay Singhal, and the appointment of AGMUT cadre officer Vidhi Kumar Birdi as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Taken together, the decisions strengthen leadership at three of India’s most critical security establishments responsible for VIP protection, border guarding, and internal security operations.
The approvals were issued through separate orders by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Cabinet Secretariat.
Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat Elevated to Additional Director General in SPG
One of the most notable decisions concerns Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat, a 1998-batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre who has spent a substantial part of his recent career within the Special Protection Group.
The ACC has approved the proposal submitted by the Office of Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat, for Bhagat’s appointment as Additional Director General in the SPG.
According to the official order issued on June 1, 2026, his tenure in the upgraded position will continue until May 20, 2027.
Interestingly, the appointment has been made through a temporary upgradation of the post currently occupied by him. The arrangement has been created specifically for the officer, a mechanism occasionally adopted by the government in recognition of seniority, experience, and organizational requirements.
The elevation significantly strengthens the leadership structure of the elite security force entrusted with the protection of the Prime Minister of India and other designated protectees.
Nearly Eight Years in India’s Elite Protection Force
Bhagat’s association with the SPG dates back to May 2018, when he joined the organization on central deputation as Deputy Inspector General.
His original deputation period was scheduled to conclude in May 2023. However, the Centre repeatedly extended his tenure, reflecting confidence in his professional capabilities and institutional knowledge.
The most recent extension came in April 2025, when his deputation was prolonged by another two years up to May 20, 2027.
Over the years, Bhagat has become one of the most experienced officers within the SPG leadership structure, overseeing highly sensitive security operations and protective arrangements involving the country’s highest constitutional and political offices.
Elevation Follows ADG Empanelment
The promotion comes shortly after Bhagat was empanelled in March 2026 for holding Additional Director General-level positions under the Government of India.
Empanelment is a significant milestone in the career of senior IPS officers and serves as a prerequisite for appointment to top-level central positions.
His elevation therefore represents the natural progression of a career marked by extensive security experience and long service within one of India’s most sensitive organizations.
With the new appointment, Bhagat will continue to play a central role in maintaining and strengthening the operational effectiveness of the SPG.
SSB Chief Sanjay Singhal Awarded Apex Pay Scale
In another major development, the ACC has approved the grant of the Apex Pay Scale (Level-17 in the Pay Matrix) to Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal.
The approval took effect from June 1, 2026.
The Apex Scale represents the highest pay level available to serving civil and police officers under the Government of India and is reserved for a select group of top-ranking officials heading important national institutions.
The decision places Singhal among the country’s most senior police leaders and acknowledges his long and distinguished service in law enforcement and border management.
From Ghaziabad to the Top of a Border Guarding Force
Born on December 27, 1968, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Singhal belongs to the 1993 batch of the Indian Police Service.
A mechanical engineering graduate, he entered the IPS through the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination and went on to build a career spanning more than three decades.
Throughout his service, he has held a wide range of operational, administrative, and leadership positions at both state and central levels.
His reputation within policing circles has largely been built on administrative reforms, personnel management, and institutional modernization.
Leading the SSB Since 2025
Singhal took over as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal on September 1, 2025.
The force plays a crucial role in guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan while also supporting national security operations whenever required.
He succeeded Amrit Mohan Prasad and is scheduled to remain at the helm of the force until his retirement on December 31, 2028.
Before assuming command of the SSB, he served as Special Director General in the Border Security Force following his move to central deputation in late 2024.
Significant Contributions in Uttar Pradesh Police
Prior to joining central organizations, Singhal held several influential positions within Uttar Pradesh Police.
As Additional Director General (Establishment), he introduced a number of administrative reforms that improved service management and promotion systems for police personnel.
His tenure earned appreciation for streamlining procedures and improving organizational efficiency.
He also served as ADG Crime, ADG Railways, and ADG Establishment, besides holding multiple field postings as Superintendent of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police in important districts.
Experience Beyond India’s Borders
Singhal’s professional profile extends beyond domestic policing.
During his tenure with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), he served in several key operational roles and eventually rose to the rank of Inspector General.
His career also includes international exposure through participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo, where he represented India in peacekeeping and stabilization operations.
This blend of field experience, administrative leadership, border management expertise, and international exposure has contributed significantly to his rise within India’s security establishment.
Vidhi Kumar Birdi Returns to CRPF as Inspector General
In another important decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Vidhi Kumar Birdi, a 2003-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force.
The appointment has been made against an existing vacancy within the organization.
According to the official order, Birdi will serve in Level-14 of the Pay Matrix, corresponding to the rank of Inspector General.
The government has instructed the concerned authorities to relieve him immediately so that he can assume his new responsibilities without delay.
Appointment Made Possible After Cooling-Off Waiver
Birdi’s return to the CRPF follows a significant administrative decision taken just days earlier.
On May 30, 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved a proposal to waive his mandatory cooling-off period, making him eligible for another central deputation assignment.
Such waivers are granted only in specific cases where organizational requirements and administrative considerations justify an exception.
The decision paved the way for his swift appointment to the CRPF.
Familiar Face in the Force
Birdi is already well acquainted with the functioning of the Central Reserve Police Force.
Before returning to his AGMUT cadre in 2023, he had served as Inspector General within the CRPF.
Following his premature repatriation, he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir, where he continued handling important policing assignments.
His prior experience within the force is expected to prove valuable as the CRPF continues to manage a broad spectrum of responsibilities ranging from internal security operations and counter-insurgency duties to election security and anti-Naxal deployments.
Reinforcing Leadership Across Critical Security Institutions
The latest appointments underline the government’s continuing focus on strengthening leadership at key security and policing institutions.
Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat’s elevation adds depth to the leadership structure of the SPG at a time when security threats are becoming increasingly complex.
The grant of Apex Scale to Sanjay Singhal recognizes decades of distinguished service while reinforcing leadership at a strategically important border-guarding force.
Meanwhile, Vidhi Kumar Birdi’s return to the CRPF brings back an experienced officer familiar with the force’s operational culture and security challenges.
Collectively, the decisions reflect a broader effort to ensure continuity, institutional stability, and experienced leadership across India’s security architecture as the country navigates evolving internal and external security challenges.
