Next Bihar DGP: Ball In UPSC’s Court

Incumbent Vinay Kumar, who will take charge as the state’s Chief Information Commissioner, has gone on leave. Preeta Verma, a 1991-batch IPS officer who serves as the Director General of Home Guards and Fire Services, now holds additional charge as Bihar DGP. 

The process of selecting a new DGP involves the state government, the Centre, and the UPSC. 

With the Bihar government having sent its shortlist, the UPSC will now choose three officers and send the names to the Chief Minister to pick one.

Top Contenders

Several senior names from different batches are being discussed. 

Verma’s position as one of the senior officers of the Bihar cadre puts her in the pool of potential candidates.

Another prominent name is that of 1992-batch IPS officer B. Srinivasan, currently on Central deputation and serving as Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG). 

The list also includes 1993-batch officers Jitendra Singh Gangwar and Jitendra Kumar. Gangwar has previously served as DG Vigilance in Bihar and currently holds a senior position. Jitendra Kumar is serving as DG of the Central Selection Board (Constable Recruitment).

Among the 1994-batch officers being considered is Kundan Krishnan, who many believe is the favourite. Paresh Saxena and Nirmal Kumar Azad, also from the 1994 batch, are among the other senior officers whose names have figured in the list.

The selection is not expected to be restricted to officers already serving at the DG level. 

Several Additional Director General (ADG)-rank officers from the 1995 and 1996 batches are also reportedly within the pool of eligible candidates. This widens the field beyond the most senior serving DG-rank officers.