ACC Clears Top IPS Appointments: Alok Kumar Mittal to Lead BPR&D, Amit Garg Named NCRB Director, Sujeet Pandey Takes Charge of SVPNPA
In a major leadership reshuffle involving some of India’s most influential policing institutions, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to head the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). The appointments are expected to provide fresh momentum to police reforms, technology-driven law enforcement, crime analytics and the training of future police leaders.
The appointments, cleared on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), were formally notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on July 6, 2026. Senior IPS officers Alok Kumar Mittal (IPS:1993:Haryana), Amit Garg (IPS:1993:Andhra Pradesh) and Sujeet Pandey (IPS:1994:Uttar Pradesh) have been entrusted with leadership responsibilities in three institutions that play a critical role in shaping India’s policing framework.
The move comes at a time when police organisations across the country are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence, digital investigation tools, cyber policing, forensic science and data-driven policing to tackle evolving security challenges.
ACC Approves Three Key Appointments
The latest appointments represent one of the most significant changes in the leadership of India’s policing ecosystem this year.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 29, 2026. Following the approval, the Department of Personnel and Training issued the official notification through Annies Kanmani Joy, Director in the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The orders have been communicated to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Secretariat and other concerned departments for implementation.
The reshuffle is expected to strengthen institutions responsible for police modernisation, national crime databases, police research and professional training of IPS officers.
Alok Kumar Mittal Appointed Director General of BPR&D
Senior IPS officer Alok Kumar Mittal, a 1993-batch officer of the Haryana cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
He will assume charge in the Level-16 pay scale from the date he joins office and will continue in the post until his superannuation on June 30, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
BPR&D is regarded as the Government of India’s premier institution for police reforms and modernisation. It functions as the country’s principal think tank for policing policies, research, training standards and institutional capacity building.
The organisation plays an important role in introducing technological innovations, promoting best policing practices and developing evidence-based policy recommendations for police forces across India.
With decades of experience in law enforcement and administration, Mittal is expected to steer initiatives aimed at strengthening police modernisation, improving research capabilities and expanding the use of technology in policing.
What Does BPR&D Do?
The Bureau of Police Research and Development occupies a central position in India’s internal security architecture.
Its responsibilities include:
Police modernisation programmes.
Research on policing practices.
Development of operational standards.
Capacity building and professional training.
Police reforms and policy formulation.
Promotion of technological innovation in policing.
The institution works closely with state police organisations, central armed police forces and other security agencies to improve policing standards across the country.
With new-age challenges such as cybercrime, organised crime and digital fraud becoming increasingly complex, BPR&D’s role has expanded significantly in recent years.
Amit Garg Named Director of National Crime Records Bureau
The ACC has appointed Amit Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, as the new Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Interestingly, Garg is currently serving as Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. He will now move to NCRB, succeeding Alok Ranjan (IPS:1991:Madhya Pradesh).
For his appointment, the post of Director, NCRB has been temporarily upgraded to the rank of Director General on a personal basis.
He will continue in office until October 31, 2027, the date of his retirement, or until further orders.
His appointment is being viewed as significant because NCRB has evolved into one of the country’s most technology-intensive policing institutions.
NCRB at the Centre of India’s Digital Policing Revolution
Over the years, the National Crime Records Bureau has transformed from a repository of crime statistics into a technology-driven institution supporting policing across India.
Apart from compiling national crime data, NCRB manages several mission-critical digital platforms that enable seamless information sharing among police organisations and criminal justice institutions.
Among its key responsibilities are:
Collection and publication of national crime statistics.
Management of criminal databases.
Implementation of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
Administration of the National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO).
Integration of the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
Crime analytics and digital investigation support. Development of technology-enabled policing platforms.
Officials believe Amit Garg’s experience in police leadership and institutional management will help strengthen digital policing, cybercrime analysis and technology integration across the country’s law enforcement agencies.
Sujeet Pandey Appointed Director of SVPNPA
Senior IPS officer Sujeet Pandey, a 1994-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad.
He succeeds Amit Garg, who has been appointed Director of the National Crime Records Bureau.
Pandey will hold the Level-16 post from the date he assumes charge until July 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders.
His appointment comes at a time when police training is undergoing rapid transformation to prepare officers for emerging security challenges that increasingly involve cyber threats, financial crimes, digital investigations and artificial intelligence.
India’s Premier Police Training Institution
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy is widely recognised as the country’s apex institution for training Indian Police Service officers.
Located in Hyderabad, the Academy conducts foundational training for IPS probationers while also organising advanced and mid-career programmes for senior police officers from across India.
The Academy also hosts officers from friendly foreign nations under various international cooperation initiatives.
Its key functions include:
Training newly recruited IPS probationers.
Conducting mid-career training programmes.
Leadership development for senior police officers.
Strategic policing education.
International police cooperation and capacity-building programmes.
Advanced courses in cyber policing, forensic science and internal security.
With policing becoming increasingly technology-driven, the Academy is expected to play an even larger role in preparing officers for future challenges.
A Leadership Transition with National Significance
The simultaneous appointment of new heads to BPR&D, NCRB and SVPNPA represents more than a routine administrative reshuffle.
Collectively, these three organisations influence almost every aspect of policing in India, from developing operational doctrines and research to training IPS officers and managing national crime databases.
Their leadership will be central to shaping reforms in areas such as digital governance, cybercrime investigation, forensic science, predictive policing and evidence-based law enforcement.
The appointments also come against the backdrop of increasing investment by both the Centre and state governments in artificial intelligence, data analytics, integrated criminal databases and smart policing technologies.
Strengthening India’s Policing Ecosystem
The appointments underscore the government’s continued emphasis on strengthening institutions that support police modernisation and internal security.
As India confronts increasingly sophisticated challenges ranging from cybercrime and organised criminal networks to financial fraud and cross-border security threats, institutions such as BPR&D, NCRB and SVPNPA have become critical pillars of the country’s policing framework.
With experienced officers like Alok Kumar Mittal, Amit Garg and Sujeet Pandey taking charge of these key organisations, expectations are high that the institutions will continue driving reforms, expanding technology adoption, enhancing professional training and improving coordination across police forces nationwide.
Their leadership is expected to play an important role in shaping the future of Indian policing through innovation, research, digital transformation and capacity building, ensuring that law enforcement agencies remain better equipped to meet the evolving demands of public safety and national security.
