Chandigarh: The Punjab government has transferred and assigned new responsibilities to seven senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, including appointments to the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Counter Intelligence, State Armed Police and Railways.
The orders were issued by the Department of Home Affairs, Punjab, on November 7, 2026, on administrative grounds and with immediate effect. All the officers have been directed to join their new places of posting immediately.
The reshuffle includes four 1995-batch IPS officers — Promod Ban, Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui, Amit Prasad and G. Nageswara Rao — who have also been promoted to the Director General of Police (DGP) rank, according to reports on the same-day promotions.
Seven IPS Officers and Their New Postings
The following changes have been ordered:
- Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain: Appointed Special DGP, Railways, Punjab. He will continue to hold the additional charge of Special DGP, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Patiala.
- Anita Punj: Will continue as Special DGP, Human Resource Development (HRD) and Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, and will additionally hold the charge of Special DGP, Human Rights, Punjab.
- Promod Ban: Appointed Special DGP, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab.
- Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui: Appointed Special DGP, State Armed Police (SAP), Jalandhar Cantonment.
- Amit Prasad: Appointed Special DGP, Counter Intelligence, Punjab.
- G. Nageswara Rao: Appointed Special DGP, Provisioning, Punjab, with the additional charge of Special DGP, Modernisation, Punjab.
- Gautam Cheema: Appointed ADGP, Law and Order, Punjab.
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Who Are the Seven IPS Officers?
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Jain is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds a Master of Commerce degree, is a Chartered Accountant, and has qualifications in public administration, including an MDPM and PhD.
Before the latest order, he was serving as Special DGP, PSPCL, Patiala. He has now been assigned the Railways portfolio while retaining his PSPCL responsibility.
Anita Punj
Anita Punj is a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. Her educational qualifications include a BA (Honours), an MA in Police Administration and an LLB.
She previously served as Director of the Punjab Police Academy (PPA), Phillaur, becoming the first woman officer to head the institution in its history, according to a 2017 report by The Tribune.
She was subsequently posted as ADGP-cum-Director of the academy. Her existing responsibility as Special DGP, HRD and Welfare, Punjab, continues under the latest order, with the additional charge of Human Rights.
Promod Ban
Promod Ban is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds a BTech degree.
He has previously handled several important assignments in Punjab Police, including roles associated with Counter Intelligence, Modernisation and the security of the Chief Minister.
He was also posted as ADGP, Special Crimes and Economic Offences, before taking charge of the Anti-Gangster Task Force as Special DGP under the latest order.
Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui
Mohd Faiyaz Farooqui is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds a master’s degree and has served in several operational and supervisory positions during his career.
His earlier assignments include postings as Superintendent of Police in Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Faridkot, Khanna and Mansa. He has also served in the Border Security Force (BSF), including as Inspector General of the Tripura Frontier.
Before the latest order, he was available for posting on promotion. He has now been assigned the responsibility of Special DGP, State Armed Police, Jalandhar Cantonment.
Amit Prasad
Amit Prasad is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre and holds an MA degree.
He has held important assignments in the state’s internal security and intelligence setup. His previous responsibilities include Counter Intelligence and the Organised Crime Control Unit.
He was also empanelled for Director General-level posts at the Centre in 2026, according to media reports. Under the latest order, he has been appointed Special DGP, Counter Intelligence, Punjab.
G. Nageswara Rao
Gollapalli Nageswara Rao is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
He has previously served as Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau from April 2017 to July 2019. He was also posted as Secretary in the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Punjab, in 2020.
Rao has served on deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and received the United Nations Medal for his service with the UN Mission in Kosovo in 2004. His other recognitions include the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
He was most recently serving as ADGP, Provisioning, Punjab. He has now been appointed Special DGP, Provisioning, with additional charge of Modernisation.
Gautam Cheema
Gautam Cheema is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. He holds MA and MPhil qualifications.
His previous assignments include Inspector General of Police, Crime, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, and IGP, Special Operations Group (SOG), Patiala.
He has now been appointed ADGP, Law and Order, Punjab, under the November 7 order.
Immediate Implementation of Orders
The Punjab government has directed all seven officers to assume their new responsibilities immediately.
The order was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Alok Shekhar (IAS: 1994: PB), Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs.
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