Lucknow: In a significant reshuffle within the Uttar Pradesh Police, the state government on Tuesday promoted senior IPS officer Binod Kumar Singh (IPS:1994:UP) to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in the Pay Matrix Level-16, following a key Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting at Lok Bhavan.
Mr Singh, who has been serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Cyber Crime, will now join the top echelon of the UP Police force. His elevation reflects the government’s broader restructuring of senior leadership amid a series of upcoming retirements and central deputations.
High-Level DPC Clears Singh’s Name
The promotion was approved during a DPC meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S P Goyal (IAS:1989:UP) and attended by UP DGP Rajiv Krishna (IPS:1991:UP) and Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad (IAS:1995:UP). The panel reviewed available DG-level vacancies and cleared the promotion of eligible officers from the 1994 IPS batch, with Singh leading the list due to his seniority and current responsibilities in the Cyber Crime unit.
Central Deputation Triggers Cadre Movements
The reshuffle follows the central deputation of Anand Swaroop (IPS:1992:UP) as DG, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which created a key DG-level vacancy in the state. Singh’s promotion is the first of several expected changes at the top, as other senior officers are due for retirement or transfer.
- Tilottama Verma (IPS:1990:UP), DG Training, and
- Abhay Kumar Prasad (IPS:1991:UP), DG Civil Defence,
are both scheduled to retire soon, further opening up DG-level positions in the coming months.
Race Heats Up for Next Round of DG Promotions
With Singh now promoted, attention shifts to other 1994 batch officers in line for elevation:
- Akhil Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Kanpur, recently empanelled for DG roles in the Centre, is expected to go on central deputation.
- Raja Srivastava, currently ADG, CRPF, is also empanelled and serving on a central posting.
- This leaves D.K. Thakur (ADG, UP STF) and Sujit Pandey (ADG, Lucknow Zone) as strong contenders for future DG-level promotions within the state.
Singh’s Track Record and Role in Cyber Policing
IPS Singh has played a pivotal role in strengthening cybercrime infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. Under his leadership, the ADG Cyber Crime unit has handled major digital fraud and cyber security threats, aligning with national and state-level cyber policing goals.
His elevation is being seen as recognition of his contributions to modern policing methods, particularly in the digital domain.
Outlook: More Top-Level Changes Ahead
With multiple senior officers headed for retirement or central assignments, the UP Police cadre is set for a notable reshaping. Singh’s promotion marks the beginning of what officials say will be a series of high-level appointments and reassignments over the next quarter.
This churn at the senior level comes at a time when the state is ramping up preparations for administrative and law enforcement readiness ahead of major festival and election seasons.
