Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has assigned 1993-batch IPS officer Vinaytosh Mishra, Director General of Police, Crime Branch, the additional charge of Director General of Police (Head of Police Force) of the state.
The temporary arrangement will take effect from August 16, 2026, following the retirement of incumbent DGP Y.B. Khurania, IPS (1990: Odisha), who completes his tenure as the head of the Odisha Police on the same day.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the proposal to place Mishra in additional charge until further orders.
The interim arrangement comes at a significant juncture, with the selection of Odisha’s regular DGP currently caught up in a legal challenge before the Supreme Court. The Court has directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) not to finalise its panel for the appointment until August 18, when the matter is scheduled to be heard.
Vinaytosh Mishra to Take Charge as Odisha Police Chief
Mr Mishra, a senior 1993-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre, is currently serving as DGP, CID, Crime Branch, Odisha.
With the additional charge, he will now oversee the overall functioning of the Odisha Police as its Head of Police Force, while continuing to hold his existing Crime Branch responsibilities.
His immediate responsibility will be to ensure administrative and operational continuity across the state police establishment during the transition period.
As the state’s police chief, Mishra will be responsible for overseeing law and order, crime control, security arrangements and the functioning of the wider police machinery across Odisha.
The government has not yet announced a permanent successor to Khurania, and Mishra’s appointment is being treated as an interim arrangement until the regular DGP selection process is completed.
Why Has Odisha Got an Interim DGP?
The temporary appointment comes against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute over the process for selecting Odisha’s next regular DGP.
The Supreme Court has directed the UPSC not to finalise its panel for Odisha’s next police chief until August 18. The direction followed a challenge to the selection process and allegations concerning changes to the pool of eligible officers.
The UPSC informed the Court that it would defer its proposed meeting to finalise recommendations for the Odisha DGP post.
The matter was heard by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana.
The Court’s intervention assumes significance because Khurania is due to retire on August 16, leaving the state police force without a regular DGP until the selection process moves forward.
Supreme Court Challenge Over DGP Selection
The dispute before the Supreme Court concerns the process through which the panel of eligible officers for the Odisha DGP post is being prepared.
According to the allegations before the Court, the Odisha Government altered the pool of officers being considered for the post by promoting certain officers holding the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG) to the rank of DGP and subsequently seeking their inclusion in the selection process.
The issue has therefore brought scrutiny to the process of determining the eligible pool of officers from which the UPSC is expected to prepare its panel.
The Supreme Court’s direction to defer the UPSC’s panel finalisation until August 18 means that the regular appointment process remains unresolved as DGP Khurania’s tenure comes to an end.
How is the Regular DGP Selected?
The selection of a state police chief follows the framework laid down by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh case.
Under the established procedure, the state government identifies a pool of eligible senior IPS officers and forwards the proposal to the UPSC.
The UPSC subsequently assesses the eligible officers and prepares a shortlist or panel from which the state government makes the final appointment.
The ongoing litigation in Odisha has temporarily disrupted this process, necessitating an interim arrangement at the top of the state police hierarchy.
Until the UPSC panel is finalised and a regular DGP is appointed, Mishra will steer the Odisha Police as the interim Head of Police Force.
Y.B. Khurania to Retire After Two Years as Odisha DGP
The interim arrangement follows the completion of the tenure of Y.B. Khurania, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre.
Mr Khurania assumed charge as Odisha Police Chief on August 16, 2024, and is completing his two-year tenure on August 16, 2026.
During his tenure, the Odisha Police administration focused on strengthening policing infrastructure, modernising law enforcement systems, expanding policing networks and improving specialised investigation capabilities.
His retirement coincides with the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding the appointment of his successor.
According to reports, IPS Khurania met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Friday, ahead of his retirement.
Following the meeting, the government moved ahead with the proposal to give Mishra additional charge of the DGP post to ensure there is no administrative vacuum at the top of the state police force.
Who Is IPS Vinaytosh Mishra?
Mr Mishra is a 1993-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Odisha cadre. A direct-recruit IPS officer who entered the service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, he joined the IPS on September 5, 1993.
He is currently serving as DGP, CID, Crime Branch, Odisha, at Pay Level 16.
With more than three decades of service, Mishra has held several important assignments across Odisha Police, including responsibilities involving crime investigation, police records, railways, fire services, home guards and civil defence.
His experience in specialised policing and investigation will now be combined with the broader administrative responsibilities of the state’s police chief.
Educational Background and Service Profile
Mishra holds a B.Sc. (Engineering) in Mechanical Engineering.
He entered the IPS as a Direct Recruit (Regular Recruit) officer through the UPSC Civil Services Examination and has completed more than 33 years in service.
His career has included senior leadership positions in several specialised and operational wings of the Odisha Police.
Key Positions Held by IPS Mishra
Before being given additional charge as Odisha DGP, Mr Mishra held several important assignments during his career.
These include his current role as DGP, CID, Crime Branch, as well as leadership responsibilities in the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB).
He has also served as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Railways, and has held the responsibility of Chief of Odisha Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence.
His experience therefore covers crime investigation, policing databases and records, railway security, fire services and civil defence, besides general police administration.
National Police Honours
IPS Mishra’s career has also been recognised with several prestigious police service awards.
He has received the –
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service – 2016
- Police Medal for Meritorious Service – 2009
- Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak – 2017
These honours reflect his long service and contributions to policing and public safety.
What Lies Ahead for Odisha Police?
IPS Mishra’s interim appointment comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Odisha Police.
The state now has to navigate two parallel developments: ensuring uninterrupted policing and law-and-order administration under an interim chief, while the legal and administrative process for appointing a regular DGP moves forward.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the matter on August 18, and the outcome could have a direct bearing on the next steps in the DGP selection process.
Until then, Mr Mishra will be responsible for maintaining continuity in the functioning of the state police force.
The government has made it clear that the arrangement is until further orders, indicating that the appointment of a regular DGP will follow once the selection process is resolved.
Interim Arrangement Ensures Continuity
The appointment of Vinaytosh Mishra as interim Head of Police Force allows the Odisha Government to avoid a leadership vacuum following Khurania’s retirement.
With IPS Mishra already serving at the DGP level and heading the Crime Branch, he brings seniority and extensive experience in specialised policing to the temporary assignment.
For now, the 1993-batch officer will shoulder the dual responsibility of heading the Crime Branch while overseeing the larger Odisha Police organisation.
The next major development is expected after the Supreme Court hearing on August 18, which could provide clarity on the UPSC panel and the appointment of Odisha’s regular DGP.
