New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has shortlisted three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for the coveted position of Kerala Police chief, as the incumbent, Shaik Darvesh Saheb, an IPS officer of 1991 batch, prepares to retire on June 30. The selection process, guided by seniority and experience, saw the UPSC remove all Additional Directors General of Police (ADGPs) from consideration, naming three candidates holding the Director General of Police (DGP) rank.
Three Senior IPS Officers Make the Final Cut
The candidates named by UPSC are Road Safety Commissioner Nitin Agarwal, Intelligence Bureau Special Director Ravada A Chandrasekhar, and Fire and Rescue Services Director General Yogesh Gupta. All three officers satisfy the eligibility criteria and possess the seniority required for the top police post in Kerala.
Notably absent from the list is ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, who was regarded as close to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state government now holds the responsibility to select one officer from this final list for the appointment.
Read Also: Kerala DGP Race Heats Up: Central Postings, Politics in Play – Who Are the Frontrunners?
Seniority and Experience Key to UPSC Decision
The UPSC’s decision was primarily based on seniority. DGP Manoj Abraham and ADGP Suresh Raj Purohit, along with ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, were excluded in favor of the three senior-most officers. This move aligns with the Centre’s directive to consider only officers holding the rank of DGP for the post.
Profiles of the Shortlisted Officers
Nitin Agarwal, a 1990-batch IPS officer and the senior-most candidate, currently serves as the Road Safety Commissioner. He has previously held the position of Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) before being repatriated to Kerala. Agarwal is due to retire by June 2026.
Ravada A Chandrasekhar, from the 1991 IPS batch, serves as Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Despite being offered the prestigious role of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat by the central government, Chandrasekhar has expressed willingness to return to Kerala Police if selected. He will retire in June 2026.
Yogesh Gupta, Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, has a tenure that extends until 2030. Recently, Gupta was reassigned from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau due to differences with the state government.
State Government’s Role in Final Appointment
While the UPSC’s role is to shortlist candidates based on eligibility and seniority, the Kerala state government has the final say in appointing the new police chief. The state had initially submitted a six-member list including ADGP-ranked officers, but the Centre’s guidelines limited consideration to DGP-ranked candidates only.
