Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government is poised to name its next Director General of Police (DGP), with a formal announcement expected in June 2025, following the finalization of a panel of senior IPS officers by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
According to official sources, the UPSC has shortlisted three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for the top post:
- Arun Dev Gautam (IPS: 1992: CG)
- Pawan Dev (IPS: 1992: CG)
- Gurjinder Pal Singh (IPS: 1994: CG)
Among them, Arun Dev Gautam, who is currently serving as the acting DGP, is said to be the leading contender for permanent appointment.
Background and Selection Process
The process began earlier this year when the state government initially proposed a panel comprising Pawan Dev, Arun Dev Gautam, and Himanshu Gupta. However, the UPSC returned the panel, reportedly citing concerns over the limited number of candidates, which did not meet the statutory criteria.
As per UPSC guidelines, when a state has fewer than five DG-rank officers, it must include names from the Additional Director General (ADG) rank to expand the selection pool. Responding to this, the state revised its panel to include two more names — Gurjinder Pal Singh and Shivram Prasad Kalluri (both IPS: 1994: CG).
After a thorough review, the UPSC finalized and sent the three-member panel to the state, enabling the appointment process to proceed.
Leadership Transition in the Police Force
Arun Dev Gautam has been holding the post of acting DGP since February 4, 2025, following the retirement of Ashok Juneja, whose tenure ended on February 3. Gautam, a 1992-batch officer, brings over three decades of experience in law enforcement, including leadership roles in various anti-insurgency and policing initiatives across Chhattisgarh.
His performance over the past few months is believed to have strengthened his position in the race for the permanent DGP role.
What’s Next?
With the panel now in the state government’s hands, a final decision is expected soon, most likely in June, after due consultation with the Chief Minister and senior officials. The selected DGP will be tasked with steering Chhattisgarh’s internal security, particularly amid ongoing challenges such as left-wing extremism, urban policing reforms, and technology integration in law enforcement.
