Director General of Respective States and Union Territories Police Force
Shoulder Rank of DGP
Car Flag for Director General of Police
Star Plate for Police Vehicle
Police department
Status	Head of Police Force ofStates and Union Territories of India
Abbreviation	DGP
Member of	Indian Police Service
Reports to	Ministry of Home Affairs
Residence	Respective Police Headquarters of States and Union Territories of India
Nominator	Union Public Service Commission
Appointer	Respective cabinet of States And Union Territories of India
Term length	2 years (minimum)
Deputy	Additional Director General of Police
Salary	•₹225,000 (US$2,700) (monthly)

TheDirector General of Police (DGP) is the highest-rankingpolice officer inIndian states and union territories. The DGP is appointed by thecabinet and holds athree-star rank. The DGP is responsible for overseeing the entire police force and law enforcement activities within their respective jurisdiction. This position holds significant authority and plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order, implementing crime prevention strategies, and ensuring public safety. The DGP is usually appointed by the state government and works closely with other law enforcement agencies and government officials to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens' rights.^[1][2]

The appointment of the Director General of Police (Head of Police Force) in Indian states and union territories follows a structured process mandated by theSupreme Court of India, primarily based on the directives issued in the landmark Prakash Singh case of 2006. These directives aim to ensure transparency, meritocracy, and stability in the leadership of state police forces.^[3][4] The Director General of Police is designated as the head of the police department for all administrative and operational purposes.

In thePrakash Singh case, the Supreme Court issued several directives to reform the police appointment process, emphasizing the need for a transparent and merit-based selection system.^[3] Key aspects of these directives include:

• Consultation with UPSC: State governments are required to consult theUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC) before appointing a DGP. This consultation involves sending the names of eligible officers to the UPSC at least three months before the incumbent DGP's retirement.^[5]

• Preparation of Panel: The UPSC prepares a panel of three officers deemed fit for the DGP position based on seniority, service record, and range of experience. This panel is then sent back to the state government, which is required to appoint one of the shortlisted officers as the DGP.^[6]

• Minimum Tenure: The selected DGP is mandated to have a minimum tenure of at least two years, irrespective of their date of superannuation. This provision aims to provide stability and continuity in police leadership.^[5]

• Eligibility Criteria: Only officers with a minimum of 30 years of service and holding the rank of Additional Director General (ADG) or equivalent are considered for the DGP position. Additionally, officers must have at least six months of service left before retirement at the time of their empanelment.^[6]

• No Acting DGPs: The Supreme Court has explicitly rejected the practice of appointing "Acting DGPs," requiring states to appoint a permanent DGP to ensure stable leadership.^[5]

When a state or union territory (UT) cadre has more than one director general (DG)-ranked officer, one of them is appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP), who serves as the head of the police force (HoPF). The remaining DG-ranked officers in a state or UT may be appointed to various positions outside of the police department, such as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Traffic and Road Safety Commissioner, Excise Commissioner, or heads of state public sector undertakings. Alternatively, they may be appointed to commensurate positions in various central police organizations or agencies under the Union government.^[7]

The pay matrix for Director General of Police (DGP) ranked officers comprises Pay Level 17, the apex grade, and Pay Level 16. The Head of Police Force or State Police Chief, holding the rank of DGP, receives a monthly fixed salary of ₹225,000, excluding allowances. This salary scale is also applicable to Directors General (DGs) of some Central Police Organisations at the Union government level.^[8][9]

For other DG ranked officers within state governments eligible for Pay Level 16, including DG of Prisons, DG of Fire and Rescue, DG of Civil Defence and Home Guards, DG of Anti-Corruption Bureau, or equivalent posts, the monthly pay ranges from ₹205,400 to ₹224,400, exclusive of allowances.^[8]

In November 2022, the government approved a proposal to grant apex scale salary to the Directors ofIntelligence Bureau (IB) and theCentral Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ensuring they receive salaries at par with Secretary-rank Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, irrespective of seniority.^[10]

DGP-ranked officers wearGorget patches on their collars, which feature a dark blue background with an oak leaf pattern stitched on it, similar to those worn by Additional Directors General (ADGs) and Inspectors General (IGs).^[11][12] The insignia and uniform are the same as those of the DGP for both Special DGPs and Additional DGPs.

• Advocate General
• Additional Director General of Police
• Chief Secretary
• Commissioner of Police
• Head of Forest Forces
• Police forces of India
• Law enforcement in India

• Chiefs of police
• Police ranks of India
• Three-star officers

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