No Extension for Incumbent DGP Prashant Kumar as Government Opts for Continuity with Trusted Officer
Lucknow: In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh government has appointed senior IPS officer Rajeev Krishna as the Acting Director General of Police (DGP), following the end of tenure of incumbent DGP Prashant Kumar, who has not been granted an extension. Krishna, a 1991-batch officer, becomes the fifth consecutive DGP in Uttar Pradesh to be appointed in an acting capacity, underlining the state’s continued reliance on temporary appointments amid UPSC-related constraints.
Trusted Aide of CM Yogi Adityanath
Currently serving as the Director of Vigilance and Chairman of the UP Police Recruitment Board, Rajeev Krishna is widely regarded as a trusted officer of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He was recently entrusted with overseeing the UP Police recruitment process in the wake of a paper leak controversy — a challenge he is credited with handling in a transparent and efficient manner.
His appointment is seen as a move to ensure administrative stability, especially as the state gears up for important police reforms and recruitment drives in the months ahead.
Delay in Permanent DGP Appointment Likely
Despite taking over as the state’s top cop, Rajeev Krishna cannot currently be appointed as permanent DGP due to UPSC guidelines. He ranks 12th in seniority among DG-rank IPS officers in Uttar Pradesh, making him ineligible for formal empanelment at this point. Sources suggest a permanent appointment may be considered around March 2026, after the scheduled retirement of several senior officers, potentially clearing the path for Krishna.
A Decorated Career Across Key UP Districts
Rajeev Krishna’s policing career spans decades and covers some of Uttar Pradesh’s most challenging assignments. He began as a probationer in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), before serving in various capacities across Bareilly, Kanpur, Aligarh, Firozabad, Etawah, Mathura, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Agra, and Lucknow.
He served as DIG of Lucknow during the Mayawati regime and later as IG of the Meerut Range, gaining hands-on experience in law enforcement across both rural and urban landscapes. In 2012, he was deputed to the Centre and returned to Uttar Pradesh in 2017, later rising to roles such as ADG Lucknow Zone and ADG Agra Zone.
A Family Deeply Rooted in Public Service
Rajeev Krishna hails from Noida and comes from a family closely associated with public administration. His wife, Meenakshi Singh, is an IRS officer and currently posted as Income Tax Commissioner in Lucknow. His brother-in-law, Rajeshwar Singh, a former Enforcement Directorate officer, is now the MLA from Sarojininagar. His sister-in-law, Lakshmi Singh, serves as the Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddha Nagar, while his father-in-law previously held the post of DIG, showcasing a lineage steeped in public service and civil administration.
Growing Chorus for Permanent Leadership
While Krishna’s appointment brings continuity, the trend of appointing acting DGPs without UPSC empanelment has raised questions about long-term leadership planning in the state police machinery. As Uttar Pradesh faces high-stakes law enforcement and recruitment challenges, demands for a permanent DGP appointment—backed by UPSC clearance—are expected to grow stronger.
For now, Rajeev Krishna’s tenure marks yet another chapter in Uttar Pradesh’s evolving police leadership narrative—one that continues to rely on trusted insiders while awaiting structural clarity at the top.
