Akshay I Special Correspondent

The race for the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Telangana has intensified as the state government has forwarded a list of eight senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consideration. The new appointment will fill the full-time Head of Police Force (HOPF) position, which is currently being held in an interim capacity.

The list includes top-ranking officers: Ravigupta (1990 batch), C.V. Anand (1991), Dr. Jitham Dar (1992), Apte Vinayak Prabhakar (1994), Kothakota Srinivas Reddy (1994), B. Shivdhar Reddy (1994), Dr. Soumya Mishra (1994), and Shikha Goel (1994).

As per the process, UPSC will shortlist three names based on eligibility and service profile. The state government will then appoint the new DGP from this panel.

Among the contenders, C.V. Anand has a long tenure ahead, serving till June 2028. Apte Vinayak Prabhakar, currently with the Central Intelligence Bureau, has service till October 2029. Shikha Goel and Dr. Soumya Mishra also have significant tenure left, retiring in March 2029 and December 2027 respectively.

Meanwhile, senior-most officer Ravigupta is set to retire in December 2025, while the current DGP, Dr. Jitender, will retire in September. Kothakota Srinivas Reddy and B. Shivdhar Reddy are set to retire in August 2025 and April 2026 respectively.

According to service norms, to be eligible for DGP, an officer must have at least 25–30 years of service and at least six months left in service at the time of empanelment. A proven track record in law and order, crime, intelligence, and economic offenses is also critical in the selection process.

The decision is expected soon as Telangana moves to strengthen its police leadership with a permanent appointment.