MHA Clears DIG Promotions for 20 AGMUT Cadre IPS Officers; 4 Deputed Officers Receive Proforma Elevation
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formally approved the promotion of 20 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers belonging to the AGMUT cadre of the 2012 batch to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). Alongside this, four officers of the same batch who are currently serving on central deputation have been granted proforma promotion to the DIG grade, ensuring parity with their batchmates in the parent cadre.
This key decision, cleared on Friday, marks a significant cadre-level advancement for AGMUT IPS officers and is expected to strengthen senior leadership across Union Territories and central assignments.
Effective Date of Promotion
As per the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the promotions to the DIG rank—classified as Level-13A in the Pay Matrix—will come into force from January 1, 2026, or from the actual date of assumption of charge, whichever occurs later.
List of AGMUT Cadre IPS Officers Promoted to DIG
The following 20 IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre (2012 batch) have been approved for promotion to the DIG rank while serving in the cadre:
Manoj Kumar Meena
Sargun Shukla
Rohit Meena
Nidhin Valsan
Abhishek Dhania
Ravi Kumar Singh
Devesh Kumar Mahla
Jitendra Kumar Meena
Rajesh Deo
Rakesh Paweriya
Bhisham Singh
Rajeev Ranjan
Mohammed Ali
Dingluaia
Sandeep Wazir
Anita Sharma
Jatinder Singh Johar
Swarn Singh Kotwal
Zahid Nasim Manhas
Dr Koshal Kumar Sharma
These officers have been cleared after due assessment of their service records, experience, and eligibility under existing promotion norms.
Proforma Promotion Granted to Officers on Central Deputation
In addition to the above, four AGMUT cadre IPS officers of the 2012 batch, who are presently posted on central deputation, have been accorded proforma promotion to the DIG grade on an actual basis. Their promotions will also be effective from January 1, 2026, or from the date on which their immediate juniors in the cadre assume the DIG rank, whichever is later.
The officers granted proforma promotion are:
M Harsha Vardhan
Dr Navdeep Singh Brar
Sandeep Choudhary
Guripal Singh
Understanding the DIG Rank in the IPS
The post of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) represents a senior leadership tier within the IPS hierarchy. Officers at this level are entrusted with wide-ranging responsibilities, including supervision of police ranges, strategic operational planning, administrative oversight, and coordination on complex law-and-order and security matters across states or Union Territories.
What Is Proforma Promotion?
Proforma promotion is a well-established administrative provision applicable to IAS and IPS officers serving on central deputation. It ensures that an officer does not lose seniority or promotional benefits while posted outside the parent cadre.
Key Features of Proforma Promotion (as applicable in 2025):
Next Below Rule (NBR): Under Rule 8(5) of the IAS/IPS Pay Rules, an officer becomes eligible for proforma promotion when their immediate junior in the parent cadre is promoted.
Seniority and Pay Protection: The officer’s seniority remains intact, and pay is notionally fixed at the higher rank.
Financial Benefits: Upon return to the cadre, the officer becomes eligible for enhanced pay and applicable arrears.
Recent MHA Practice: December 2025 orders from the MHA have extended proforma promotions to multiple IPS and IAS officers on deputation, allowing them to advance to higher grades such as DIG, IGP, or Super Time Scale in step with their batchmates.
Administrative Significance
The latest round of DIG promotions reflects the Centre’s effort to maintain timely cadre progression and ensure leadership continuity within the AGMUT cadre. It also underscores the MHA’s commitment to safeguarding the career interests of officers serving on central deputation while reinforcing senior policing capacity across the country.
