GANDHINAGAR: In a major administrative transition for Gujarat’s law enforcement, senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Gyanender Singh Malik has officially taken charge as the new Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the state.
The 1993-batch officer succeeds Dr. K. L. N. Rao, who had been handling the responsibilities as the DGP in charge. The official appointment notification was issued by the Gujarat Home Department, placing Malik in the top police rank under the Apex Scale Level 17. The transition marks a permanent leadership structure for the state’s police force after a brief interim period.
Extensive Administrative and Field Record
Prior to this premier appointment, Gyanender Singh Malik was serving as the Commissioner of Police for Ahmedabad City. His selection by the state administration follows a standardized evaluation process drawing from a panel approved by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Malik brings decades of versatile operational experience to the state command. His career spans multiple crucial domains:
- Central Deputation: Served nearly five years on central deputation, prominently working as the Inspector General (IG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Gujarat Frontier. During this time, he notably supervised successful counter-intrusion and anti-smuggling heliborne operations in the sensitive Harami Nala area of Kutch.
- International Experience: Served on a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo back in 2002, lending his expertise to high-stakes international war-crime investigations.
- Civic and Urban Governance: As Ahmedabad’s police chief, he oversaw extensive community-supported security operations, expanding surveillance capabilities via a vast network of 24,000 cameras. He also led highly publicized urban land clearance drives, freeing large patches of government property from illegal encroachments.
Why This Move Matters and Its Impact
The appointment of a permanent DGP is vital for maintaining administrative stability, determining policy directives, and ensuring long-term law enforcement strategies across Gujarat’s industrial and coastal belts.
Continuing a Tested Succession Trend
Malik’s elevation reinforces a recurring structural pattern within the state’s security apparatus, where highly experienced Ahmedabad city police commissioners are frequently elevated to lead the entire state police framework. This ensures that the leader at the helm is intimately familiar with urban law enforcement challenges, crime detection patterns, and state-wide administrative networks.
Strategic Priorities Moving Forward
With Malik taking office, the state police force is expected to put a renewed focus on technology-driven policing, border area management alongside central agencies, and proactive anti-corruption measures. It also opens up the highly anticipated race for the next Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, with several senior IPS names under active consideration by the Home Department.
Key Takeaways
- Official Transition: Gyanender Singh Malik has officially assumed office as the full-time Director General of Police for Gujarat.
- Distinguished Background: Malik is a decorated 1993-batch IPS officer with vast experience in central forces (BSF, CISF), international peacekeeping, and city policing.
- Predecessor Stepping Down: He replaces Dr. K. L. N. Rao, who was managing the top police post in an interim capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat?
Gyanender Singh Malik, a seasoned 1993-batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, is the newly appointed full-time Director General of Police.
Whom did Gyanender Singh Malik replace?
He has taken over the role from Dr. K. L. N. Rao, who was serving as the state’s in-charge DGP following the retirement of the previous full-time chief, Vikas Sahay.
What was Malik’s previous assignment?
Before taking charge of the state’s top police position, Gyanender Singh Malik served as the Commissioner of Police for Ahmedabad City since July 2023.
