IPS Officer Malika Garg Joins SVPNPA Hyderabad as Assistant Director; NIA IG Santosh Rastogi Elevated to ADG
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced two significant appointments involving senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, strengthening two of India’s most important policing institutions. Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer Malika Garg (IPS:2015:AP) has been appointed as Assistant Director (SP level) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad, while Maharashtra cadre IPS officer Santosh Rastogi (IPS:1998:MH) has been promoted as Additional Director General (ADG) in the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The two appointments, issued through separate orders by the Ministry of Home Affairs, underline the Centre’s continued emphasis on reinforcing institutions responsible for police leadership development as well as national security. While one officer will now help shape the future leadership of the Indian Police Service, the other has been entrusted with a more senior role in India’s premier counter-terrorism investigation agency.
Malika Garg Moves to India’s Premier Police Training Academy
Among the latest appointments, Malika Garg has been selected for central deputation as Assistant Director (SP level) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad.
The appointment has received the approval of the competent authority and will be governed by the standard terms and conditions applicable to officers serving on central deputation. She will formally assume charge after being relieved by the Andhra Pradesh government.
An officer of the 2015 batch of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Malika Garg has built her administrative and policing experience within the state before being chosen for this prestigious national assignment.
Her new posting places her at one of the country’s most respected police institutions, where IPS officers receive foundational as well as advanced professional training.
A Key Role in Grooming Future IPS Leadership
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy occupies a unique position in India’s policing framework. It is the institution where newly recruited IPS probationers undergo rigorous academic, physical and professional training before beginning their careers in the field.
Apart from training probationers, the Academy also conducts specialised mid-career programmes, leadership courses, tactical exercises and advanced capacity-building initiatives for senior police officers from across the country.
As Assistant Director, Malika Garg is expected to contribute to a wide range of academic, administrative and professional training activities. Her responsibilities are likely to include curriculum implementation, officer mentoring, operational training modules and various institutional programmes designed to prepare future police leaders for increasingly complex law enforcement challenges.
The appointment also provides an opportunity for her to contribute to national-level police training after gaining valuable field experience in Andhra Pradesh.
Santosh Rastogi Elevated to Additional Director General in NIA
In another important development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has elevated Santosh Rastogi (IPS:1998:MH) as Additional Director General (ADG) in the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The promotion comes as part of the Centre’s ongoing effort to strengthen leadership within India’s apex counter-terrorism agency.
According to the official order, his appointment as ADG will become effective from the date he assumes charge. The tenure will continue until August 5, 2027, which coincides with the approved period of his deputation in the NIA, or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
The elevation places Rastogi among the senior-most officers responsible for supervising the agency’s nationwide investigations involving terrorism, organised crime and offences affecting national security.
Serving the NIA Since 2020
Santosh Rastogi is no stranger to the National Investigation Agency.
He joined the organisation on August 5, 2020, as Inspector General (IG) on central deputation for a five-year tenure.
Recognising his contribution and operational experience, the Central Government approved an extension of his deputation in March 2025, allowing him to continue serving in the agency until August 5, 2027.
His latest promotion marks the next step in that journey, giving him broader supervisory responsibilities within the organisation.
Over the past several years, the NIA has handled numerous high-profile investigations involving terrorism, cross-border conspiracies, organised criminal networks, terror financing and offences with inter-state as well as international implications. Senior leadership positions within the agency demand extensive investigative experience, strategic planning abilities and coordination with multiple security agencies.
Promotion Follows Earlier ADG Empanelment
Rastogi’s elevation did not come unexpectedly.
Earlier this year, in March 2026, he had been empanelled by the Central Government for appointment to Additional Director General-level positions in Government of India organisations.
The latest order appointing him as ADG in the NIA is consistent with that empanelment and formally places him in one of the agency’s highest operational leadership roles.
His promotion reflects both seniority and experience accumulated over nearly three decades in policing and national security.
Role of the National Investigation Agency
Established to investigate offences affecting India’s sovereignty and security, the National Investigation Agency serves as the country’s premier counter-terrorism investigation body.
The agency investigates cases related to terrorism, extremist activities, organised crime, terror financing, cross-border criminal conspiracies and other offences having national and international ramifications.
Senior officers at the level of Additional Director General play a crucial role in supervising investigations, coordinating with central and state police agencies, monitoring sensitive cases and guiding operational strategy across different regions.
With Rastogi’s elevation, the NIA’s senior leadership receives another experienced officer at a time when security challenges continue to evolve in both physical and cyber domains.
Appointments Reflect Centre’s Institutional Focus
Although the two officers have been assigned very different responsibilities, both appointments point towards a common administrative objective.
Malika Garg’s posting strengthens India’s premier police training institution, where the next generation of IPS officers is prepared for leadership roles in policing, law enforcement and public safety.
Santosh Rastogi’s promotion, meanwhile, reinforces the leadership structure of the National Investigation Agency, which remains at the forefront of the country’s fight against terrorism and serious national security threats.
Together, the appointments demonstrate the government’s continued focus on placing experienced officers in institutions that influence both the future of police leadership and the country’s internal security architecture.
Leadership Development and National Security Get a Boost
The latest decisions by the Ministry of Home Affairs are part of the Centre’s broader administrative exercise of deploying experienced officers to strategically important organisations.
As Malika Garg begins her assignment at SVPNPA, she will contribute to developing future IPS officers who will eventually lead police organisations across India.
At the same time, Santosh Rastogi’s elevation ensures continuity in senior leadership within the National Investigation Agency as it continues handling complex investigations with national and international dimensions.
With these appointments, the Centre has reinforced two institutions that remain central to India’s policing ecosystem – one dedicated to producing capable police leaders and the other entrusted with safeguarding national security through professional investigation and intelligence-led policing.
