Rajeev Krishna, a 1991-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new acting Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh. The appointment, made on Saturday, May 31, 2025, comes as Prashant Kumar, the outgoing DGP from the 1990 batch, retired. Krishna's appointment puts an end to speculation regarding a possible extension of Kumar's tenure.
Krishna's career in the Uttar Pradesh Police began as a trainee IPS officer in Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad. He has since held various key positions, including Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Bareilly, Kanpur, and Aligarh, and Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in districts like Firozabad, Agra, Lucknow, and Mathura. He also served as the Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Police Academy, where he played a crucial role in training future generations of police officers. Furthermore, Krishna was the founding chief of the UP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), where he established the groundwork for counter-terrorism operations in the state. At the national level, he served as Inspector General of Operations for the Border Security Force (BSF), overseeing operations along the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders for four years.
Prior to his appointment as DGP, Krishna held the position of Director General of Police (Recruitment and Promotion Board) (UPPRPB) and also served as Director, Vigilance Establishment. In his role at UPPRPB, Krishna recently oversaw what is considered India's largest police recruitment drive, successfully inducting 60,244 constables. This recruitment process was lauded for its transparency and efficiency, particularly after a major exam leak controversy earlier in the year. His successful handling of this recruitment drive is seen as a significant factor in his appointment as DGP, as he superseded 11 other senior officers for the position.
With this appointment, Rajeev Krishna becomes the fifth consecutive officer to hold the top post in an officiating capacity since 2022. The last permanent DGP in Uttar Pradesh was Mukul Goel, who was removed from the position three years ago. Since then, D.S. Chauhan, R.K. Vishwakarma, Vijaya Kumar, and Prashant Kumar have all served as interim DGPs.
Rajeev Krishna is a native of Gautam Buddha Nagar district and holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. He is scheduled to retire in June 2029. His extensive experience in various challenging field assignments and his reputation for taking decisive action against criminal elements, particularly during his tenure as SSP in Agra, are expected to be valuable assets in his new role as the head of the Uttar Pradesh Police force. He is also known for initiating cybercrime awareness campaigns and advanced training programs for police personnel and the public.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the trend of appointing acting DGPs, alleging it reflects administrative indecisiveness within the ruling government.
