New Delhi: The Government of India has announced the appointment of Sanjay Singhal, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1993 Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the next Director General (DG) of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The decision was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Monday.
Singhal, currently serving as Special Director General (Special DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF), will formally assume his new role on September 1, 2025, a day after the retirement of the incumbent DG Amrit Mohan Prasad (IPS: 1989: Odisha cadre). Prasad is scheduled to superannuate on August 31, 2025.
A Veteran Officer With Border Management Expertise
With over three decades of experience in policing and security operations, Sanjay Singhal brings to the role a wealth of knowledge in internal security, border management, and counter-insurgency. His current role as Special DG in BSF has involved key responsibilities in safeguarding India’s borders, particularly in sensitive zones.
Singhal’s tenure at the BSF has been marked by strategic operational leadership, coordination with civil authorities, and enhanced intelligence-sharing across frontier areas. His appointment to the SSB—a central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs tasked with guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan – is expected to build further on these strengths.
To Serve Till December 2028
Sanjay Singhal’s tenure as DG of SSB will extend up to his superannuation on December 31, 2028, giving him a full three-year term to steer the force at a time of evolving border dynamics, regional security concerns, and modernization needs within paramilitary ranks.
About Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
The SSB is one of India’s key Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), primarily responsible for border guarding duties along the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan international borders, apart from performing counter-insurgency and internal security roles. The force plays a critical role in cross-border intelligence, security outreach in border villages, and anti-smuggling operations.
Leadership Transition Amid Security Modernization Push
This leadership transition comes at a time when India’s CAPFs, including the SSB, are undergoing a phase of strategic modernization, digitization, and training upgrades to deal with emerging threats such as cyber infiltration, narco-terrorism, and cross-border crime.
With Mr Singhal’s background in strategic force deployment and border policy planning, his tenure is likely to emphasize capacity-building, community engagement along borders, and technological transformation within the force.
