New Delhi: Major leadership changes are expected across India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, as Directors General (DGs) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are set to retire this month, while the Border Security Force (BSF) DG is expected to step down in November. Sources indicate that chances of service extensions for the outgoing officers are slim, and new appointments are imminent.
The process of selecting new DGs is underway, with several senior IPS officers from AGMUT, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and other cadres emerging as strong contenders.
ITBP DG Rahul Rasgotra Set to Retire
Rahul Rasgotra, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Manipur cadre and the current DG of ITBP, is scheduled to retire this month. Rasgotra has held several critical roles in Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, and served for many years in the Intelligence Bureau. He is also known for his leadership of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) — a counter-terrorism coordination body established after the Kargil conflict. Additionally, he played a key role in India’s diplomatic missions in Islamabad and Washington, particularly in counter-terrorism cooperation.
Sources suggest that Vitul Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the UP cadre and currently Special DG in CRPF, is a frontrunner to succeed Rasgotra as the new ITBP DG.
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CISF DG Rajwinder Singh Bhatti Also to Retire
Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, the CISF DG, is set to retire on September 30, 2025. According to sources, his file for service extension has not received approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, making his exit from service likely.
Several names have surfaced as potential successors. Among them is B. Srinivasan, the current DG of the National Security Guard (NSG) and a 1992-batch IPS officer from the Bihar cadre. His retirement is due in August 2027, making him a viable candidate for another central force leadership position.
Another strong contender is Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre, who is currently serving as ADG in CISF. He was empaneled for DG rank at the Centre in June 2024 and had earlier served as DGP of Chandigarh. Ranjan’s name also surfaced during the race for the Delhi Police Commissioner post, although the government eventually appointed Satish Golcha (1992-batch, AGMUT cadre) to that role.
BSF, NSG, NDRF May Also See Leadership Shuffles
BSF DG is expected to retire in November 2025, though sources say he remains in contention for a service extension. In addition, changes are likely at the NSG and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Piyush Anand, a 1991-batch IPS officer from the UP cadre, currently heads NDRF. He was appointed to the role in March 2024 for a two-year term, but discussions are ongoing about potential reassignments or replacements in light of broader leadership restructuring.
Central Forces Set for Strategic Leadership Transition
The upcoming changes mark a significant moment in India’s internal security structure, with several key positions in CAPFs expected to be filled by experienced IPS officers from the 1992–1994 batches. These appointments will play a pivotal role in shaping India’s border security, counter-terrorism, and industrial protection strategies in the years ahead.
As retirement dates approach, official announcements regarding successors to the DG positions in ITBP, CISF, and possibly BSF are expected soon from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
