UPSC Amends Guidelines for State DGP Appointments

• 04 Nov 2023

Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced amendments to its guidelines for the appointment of State Directors General of Police (DGPs), requiring police officers to have at least six months of service remaining before retirement to be considered for the position.

Key Points

• Retirement Requirement: The revised guidelines stipulate that only police officers with a minimum of six months of service left before retirement will be eligible for appointment as the Director General of Police of a State.
• Empanelment Committee Changes: The Empanelment Committee formed by the UPSC will no longer evaluate IPS officers on central deputation for a State DGP's role if the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informs the State government that it cannot release the officers.
• Explicit Guidelines: The amendments make explicit what were previously considered unwritten norms in the appointment of State DGPs. Some states have appointed DGPs near retirement age, and others have chosen acting DGPs to bypass the UPSC process, possibly to extend their terms.
• Revised Experience Requirement: The revised guidelines allow officers with 25 years of experience to be appointed as a DGP, compared to the previous minimum requirement of 30 years of service.
• The maximum number of shortlisted officers cannot exceed three, but "exceptional circumstances" may result in a panel with fewer than three officers. Officers must be willing to be included in the panel.
• Concerns and Bypassing UPSC: Several states, including BJP-ruled ones, have appointed acting DGPs or DGPs with "full additional charge" instead of regular DGPs, bypassing the UPSC's panel. These actions have raised concerns about the integrity of the appointment process.
• Ongoing Challenges: The amendment is part of a broader discussion about All India Services officers' deputation to the Centre.
• While the Union government has considered changes to the rules governing deputation, this proposal has faced resistance from the states. Some officers are also unwilling to serve in the Union government.