Every police force has officers who spend years in the field, and then there are those who quietly become part of the institution itself. G.S. Rao belongs to the latter.
Born in Andhra Pradesh, Goduguluri Srinivasa Rao earned a B.Tech in Computer Engineering from the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. Instead of pursuing a career in technology, he entered the Indian Police Service in 1999 and was allotted the Tripura cadre, a state far from his roots, with its own language, culture and security challenges.
Over the next two and a half decades, Tripura became more than just his cadre. It became the landscape where he would build his entire policing career.
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LEARNING POLICING FROM THE GROUND UP
Like many IPS officers, Rao began where policing is felt the most: among people.
As SDPO of Amarpur and later Additional SP (Rural), West Tripura, he learned the realities of law and order, investigations and public policing. His journey then took him to the 5th Battalion of the Tripura State Rifles as Commandant, giving him first-hand experience of leading armed formations.
District after district followed. As Superintendent of Police in North Tripura, West Tripura and South Tripura, he handled diverse policing challenges across border regions, urban centres and rural landscapes. His tenure as SP, Special Branch and AIGP (Operations) at Police Headquarters further expanded his understanding of intelligence gathering and statewide operational planning.
These assignments gave him a rare combination of field command and strategic policing.
FACING THE YEARS OF INSURGENCY
Rao’s career unfolded during a period when Tripura was steadily overcoming insurgency.
Serving in districts that had witnessed years of extremist activity, and later commanding the Tripura State Rifles, he participated in numerous counter-insurgency operations. His work demanded close coordination between intelligence units and field forces, where planning was often as important as action.
Those years shaped his understanding of internal security and prepared him for larger leadership roles within the police organisation.
THE OFFICER WHO HELPED TRAIN FUTURE IPS OFFICERS
In 2010, Rao’s career took an unexpected turn.
He joined the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad as Assistant Director, beginning a seven-year chapter away from field policing. During his tenure, he served as Assistant Director, Indoor Studies, and later Deputy Director for the Basic Course.
For nearly seven years, he became part of the institution responsible for preparing India’s future IPS officers. While many officers spend their careers implementing policing strategies, Rao also contributed to shaping the officers who would later lead police forces across the country.
The classroom became another command post.
RETURNING TO LEAD TRIPURA AGAIN
After returning to Tripura in 2017, Rao stepped into senior leadership positions that covered nearly every major wing of the state police.
He served as Inspector General of Police for Armed Police, Training, Crime and Intelligence, and later TSR and Operations. His experience moved seamlessly between operational command, police training and intelligence management.
He also became the State Police Nodal Officer for elections, overseeing police coordination for successive electoral exercises, a responsibility that demands extensive planning, security management and coordination across departments.
In 2024, he was promoted as Additional Director General of Police and took charge of the Armed Police, adding another major responsibility to a career already marked by varied assignments.
LEADING THE FORCE AT A DEFINING MOMENT
In July 2026, following the sudden demise of Tripura DGP Anurag Dhankar, Rao was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the state’s police force as Director General of Police in-charge.
It was a role built not on a single achievement but on decades of experience across district policing, intelligence, training, armed police and operations.
His journey had come full circle, from an engineering graduate entering an unfamiliar state to becoming the officer responsible for its entire police organisation.
A CAREER MARKED BY SERVICE ACROSS EVERY LAYER
Recognition followed over the years through the Police Special Duty Medal, Police Antarik Suraksha Seva Padak, multiple DGP Commendation Discs, Director SVP National Police Academy Commendation Disc, President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Bureau of Police Research and Development commendations, the Northeast Internal Security Medal, the 75th Independence Anniversary Medal, the Tripura Statehood Medal and the Tripura Police 150 Years Service Medal.
Yet perhaps the strongest measure of G.S. Rao’s career is not found in medals or designations. It lies in its breadth.
Few officers experience district policing, intelligence, counter-insurgency, police training, election management and armed police leadership before taking charge of an entire state police force. Rao’s journey reflects exactly that—a career built across every important layer of policing before reaching its highest office.
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