UPSC Finalizes Candidates Ahead of Police Chief’s Retirement on June 30
With Kerala’s current Director General of Police (DGP) Shaik Darvesh Saheb (IPS: 1991) set to retire on June 30, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has shortlisted three senior IPS officers for the state’s top police post. In a decision emphasizing seniority and eligibility, the UPSC has excluded all officers of the ADGP rank, narrowing the field to only those currently holding the DGP designation.
Three Senior IPS Officers in the Final List
The officers shortlisted for the post of Kerala Police Chief are:
Nitin Agarwal – Road Safety Commissioner
Ravada A Chandrasekhar – Special Director, Intelligence Bureau
Yogesh Gupta – Director General, Fire and Rescue Services
All three candidates meet the UPSC’s eligibility requirements, bringing extensive experience and seniority to the table.
Notably, ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, widely perceived as close to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was excluded from the list—along with other senior officers such as DGP Manoj Abraham and ADGP Suresh Raj Purohit.
The final decision now rests with the Kerala state government, which must select one candidate from the UPSC’s recommended panel.
UPSC Prioritizes Seniority in Line with Centre’s Guidelines
The UPSC’s selection process closely followed the central government’s directive, which mandates that only officers of DGP rank be considered for the post of state police chief. The emphasis on seniority ruled out several eligible officers who held the ADGP rank, despite their perceived influence or recent visibility in state affairs.
Profiles of the Shortlisted Officers
Nitin Agarwal (IPS: 1990)
The most senior among the contenders, Agarwal currently serves as Kerala’s Road Safety Commissioner. He formerly headed the Border Security Force (BSF) as its Director General and was later repatriated to the Kerala cadre. He is expected to retire in June 2026.
Ravada A Chandrasekhar (IPS: 1991)
Currently the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar was recently offered the role of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat by the central government. Despite this, he has shown willingness to return to Kerala Police if appointed. He, too, will retire in June 2026.
Yogesh Gupta
Serving as the Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, Gupta has a longer tenure extending until 2030. He was recently shifted from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau reportedly due to differences with the state administration.
