Top IPS officers from UP, AGMUT, and other cadres in contention as MHA prepares to fill critical vacancies; BSF, NSG, and NDRF may also see reshuffles.
New Delhi: India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are set for a major leadership shake-up as two Directors General—Rahul Rasgotra of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Rajwinder Singh Bhatti of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)—retire this month.
With the Border Security Force (BSF) chief also scheduled to step down in November, sources indicate that service extensions are unlikely, paving the way for fresh appointments across multiple forces.
ITBP: Rasgotra to Step Down; Vitul Kumar Emerges as Frontrunner
Rahul Rasgotra, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Manipur cadre, will retire this month after a distinguished career. Known for his tenure in Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, and the Intelligence Bureau, Rasgotra also headed the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), India’s key counter-terrorism coordination body set up post-Kargil. His diplomatic postings in Islamabad and Washington were instrumental in strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation.
Vitul Kumar, a 1993-batch UP cadre IPS officer and currently Special DG in CRPF, is widely tipped as the frontrunner to succeed Rasgotra as ITBP chief.
CISF: Bhatti’s Exit Clears Way for New Leadership
CISF DG Rajwinder Singh Bhatti will retire on September 30, 2025. With the Ministry of Home Affairs unlikely to grant an extension, focus has shifted to potential successors.
Among the top contenders is B. Srinivasan, a 1992-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer and the current DG of the National Security Guard (NSG), due to retire only in 2027. Another strong candidate is Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch AGMUT cadre officer serving as ADG in CISF. Empaneled for DG rank in June 2024, Ranjan earlier served as Chandigarh’s DGP and was in the race for Delhi Police Commissioner last year.
BSF, NSG, and NDRF: Possible Reshuffles Ahead
The BSF DG is expected to retire in November, though insiders suggest a possible extension remains under consideration. Meanwhile, the NSG and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) could also see changes.
NDRF is currently headed by Piyush Anand, a 1991-batch UP cadre officer appointed in March 2024 for a two-year term. Discussions are underway on whether he will continue or be reassigned as part of the broader restructuring.
Strategic Shifts in India’s Security Leadership
The upcoming reshuffle underscores a critical transition in India’s internal security apparatus. With several DG-level posts likely to be filled by seasoned IPS officers from the 1992–1994 batches, the appointments will directly impact the nation’s border security, counter-terrorism strategy, and industrial protection framework.
Official announcements from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the new DGs of ITBP, CISF, and possibly BSF are expected in the coming weeks.
