For more than three decades, Alok Sharma has worked in some of the most demanding policing assignments in India. From district policing in Uttar Pradesh to managing security during the massive 2013 Kumbh Mela and eventually leading the Special Protection Group (SPG), his career has moved steadily towards roles where planning, coordination and operational preparedness are critical.
A 1991-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Sharma joined the IPS on 15 September 1991. Born on 15 June 1966 and originally from Aligarh, he holds a B.Sc. and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently serving as the Director of the SPG, a position he assumed on 17 November 2023.
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FROM DISTRICT POLICING TO SENIOR COMMAND
Sharma’s early career was rooted in field policing. Over the years, he served as Superintendent of Police in districts including Unnao, Moradabad and Bulandshahr. He later held senior positions in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, including assignments as DIG and IG.
His career also included important command responsibilities in the Provincial Armed Constabulary and central organisations. He was promoted to DIG in 2005, IG in 2010 and later to the ADG level. His postings took him through several parts of the police system before he moved to central deputation.
This wide field experience became an important part of his professional journey. It exposed him to district law and order, force management, large public gatherings and specialised security assignments.
THE KUMBH TEST
One of the most visible assignments of Sharma’s career came during the 2013 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, where he was Inspector General of Police, Allahabad Zone.
The Kumbh brought an enormous policing challenge. Millions of pilgrims were expected to arrive over several weeks. Security agencies had to prepare for crowd management, traffic, law and order and possible security threats.
Sharma was among the senior officers responsible for the security arrangements. Contemporary reports show that more than 7,000 central paramilitary personnel, including units of the Rapid Action Force and National Disaster Response Force, were deployed for the event. Sharma was also part of the official delegation that later travelled to Harvard for discussions on the organisation and administration of the Kumbh.
The experience highlighted a recurring theme in his career: large and complex operations depend on preparation long before the crowds arrive.
THE MOVE TO SPECIALISED SECURITY
In 2017, Sharma went on central deputation. His career then took a decisive turn towards specialised security.
He joined the SPG as Inspector General in February 2018. In 2021, he was appointed Additional Director General in the organisation. After serving in these senior roles, he was appointed Director of the SPG in November 2023.
The SPG is a specialised force responsible for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister and eligible immediate family members residing with the Prime Minister at the official residence. The organisation was established in 1988 through an Act of Parliament.
Sharma’s long association with the organisation has therefore taken him from operational leadership to its highest command position.
A CAREER BUILT ON RECOGNITION
Sharma’s service has also been recognised through several medals and commendations.
The Uttar Pradesh Police records list the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2007, the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2016, the Parakram Padak in 2016, a DG’s Commendation Disc and the Ati Utkrisht Seva Padak in 2020.
The President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service is particularly significant in the context of his long career. By the time he received it in 2016, he had already spent more than two decades in policing and had served in a range of field and senior command assignments.
A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH SPG
Sharma’s journey in the SPG has lasted several years and covers different levels of responsibility. He first served as IG and later as ADG before taking charge as Director.
The continuity is notable. Instead of arriving at the top post without prior experience in the organisation, Sharma spent years working within the SPG and rising through its command structure. This gave him experience of its systems, personnel and specialised security requirements.
The official SPG website currently lists Shri Alok Sharma as its Director and traces the leadership of the organisation through its previous directors, including the late Arun Kumar Sinha, who headed the force from 2016 to 2023.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT TRANSITION
In June 2026, the government appointed Amit Kumar, a 1994-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer and Special Director General in the CRPF, as Officer on Special Duty in the SPG. He is set to take over as Director after Sharma’s extended tenure ends on 31 March 2027.
The arrangement allows the incoming officer to work within the organisation before assuming its top post. For Sharma, it marks the later phase of a career that has moved from district policing to some of the country’s most sensitive security responsibilities.
From the crowded grounds of the Kumbh to the highly specialised world of proximate protection, his career has been shaped by assignments where preparation and coordination matter as much as command. As a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Alok Sharma’s three-decade journey reflects the progression of a field officer into one of the country’s most senior specialised security roles.
