Gyanendra Pratap Singh Named Director General of CRPF

Gyanendra Pratap Singh Appointed DG of CRPF

On January 18, 2025, the Indian government appointed Gyanendra Pratap Singh, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, as the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Singh, who was previously serving as the Director General of Police (DGP) in Assam, will begin his new role immediately, with his tenure lasting until his retirement on November 30, 2027, or until further orders.

Professional Background

Singh has had a distinguished career in law enforcement, holding various significant positions:

• Special Protection Group (SPG): Singh has worked with the SPG, which is responsible for providing close security to the Prime Minister of India.

• National Investigation Agency (NIA): From 2013, Singh served as Inspector General at the NIA, where his tenure was extended due to his expertise in national security.

• Assam Police: Singh returned to Assam in December 2019 as Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) during protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act. He later served as Special DGP (Law and Order) and Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.

Role of CRPF

The CRPF, India’s largest paramilitary force with nearly 300,000 personnel, plays a critical role in:

• Counter-Terrorism Operations: Engaging in anti-terror efforts in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Counter-Insurgency Operations: Conducting operations in northeastern states.

• Anti-Maoist Operations: Addressing left-wing extremism in various states.

Future Challenges

Under Singh's leadership, the CRPF is expected to play a key role in the government’s plan to eradicate left-wing extremism in Chhattisgarh by March 2026, with over 40,000 CRPF personnel currently deployed in the state.