Bihar DGP Preeta Verma's additional charge extended until further orders
Synopsis
Bihar's top police post remains in acting hands. The Home Department has extended IPS officer Preeta Verma's additional charge as DGP, Bihar, until further orders — with her predecessor Vinay Kumar now heading the state's information commission and the permanent DGP appointment still pending.
Key Takeaways
Preeta Verma , a 1991-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer , will continue as DGP, Bihar in additional charge until further orders.
The Bihar Home Department issued the extension order on 5 October 2026 .
Verma was originally assigned the additional charge on 15 September 2026 after Vinay Kumar proceeded on 21 days' leave .
Vinay Kumar was subsequently appointed Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Bihar and took voluntary retirement from the DGP post.
The acting arrangement does not constitute a permanent appointment; a regular DGP selection process is yet to be initiated.
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Preeta Verma will continue to hold the additional charge of Director General of Police (DGP), Bihar, after the state Home Department on 5 October 2026 extended her tenure until further orders. The arrangement keeps the 1991-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer at the helm of Bihar Police Headquarters even as the state government is yet to appoint a permanent DGP.
Background of the Arrangement
Verma was first assigned the additional charge of DGP, Bihar, through a departmental order dated 15 September 2026. She stepped in to replace Vinay Kumar, who had proceeded on 21 days' leave while serving as Bihar DGP. Kumar was subsequently appointed Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Bihar, approximately a week before the latest order, and thereafter took voluntary retirement from the post of Bihar DGP — necessitating the continuation of Verma in the acting role.
Verma's Current Responsibilities
Verma is simultaneously serving as Director General-cum-Commandant General of Bihar Home Guards and Fire Services, a substantive post she continues to hold. Since taking on the additional charge, she has been overseeing the functioning of Bihar Police Headquarters alongside these existing responsibilities. As one of the senior-most IPS officers in the Bihar cadre, her continued tenure in the acting role is seen as a stabilising measure.
Limits of the Acting Arrangement
The 5 October 2026 government order explicitly states that Verma's continuation does not constitute a permanent appointment as DGP. The process for selecting a full-time DGP is separate and is governed by established procedures. The state government is yet to initiate or complete that process, meaning the present arrangement is expected to remain in place until a regular incumbent is identified and appointed.
What Comes Next
Attention in Bihar police and administrative circles is now focused on when the state government will move to fill the DGP post on a permanent basis. Until that happens, Preeta Verma will continue to oversee the state's police force in an additional or acting capacity, balancing dual senior responsibilities within the department.
Point of View
And the latest order — extending the arrangement indefinitely — suggests the state government has no immediate timeline for a permanent appointment. This is not unusual in Indian state policing, but prolonged acting tenures can create accountability gaps at the top of a force as large as Bihar Police. With Vinay Kumar's transition to the CIC role coming within weeks of his leave, the sequence of events raises questions about succession planning. The government would do well to move quickly on a permanent appointment rather than allow the acting arrangement to drift.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Preeta Verma and why is she Bihar's acting DGP?
Preeta Verma is a 1991-batch Bihar cadre IPS officer currently serving as Director General-cum-Commandant General of Bihar Home Guards and Fire Services. She was assigned the additional charge of DGP, Bihar, on 15 September 2026 after her predecessor Vinay Kumar went on leave, and that charge has now been extended until further orders.
Why did Vinay Kumar leave the Bihar DGP post?
Vinay Kumar initially proceeded on 21 days' leave while serving as Bihar DGP. He was subsequently appointed Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Bihar, and took voluntary retirement from the DGP post, creating a vacancy that Preeta Verma continues to fill in an acting capacity.
Is Preeta Verma the permanent DGP of Bihar?
No. The Bihar Home Department order explicitly states that her continuation in the role does not constitute a permanent appointment. She holds the post in an additional or acting capacity, and the process for appointing a full-time DGP is yet to be completed.
What is the significance of the 5 October 2026 order?
The order issued on 5 October 2026 extends Preeta Verma's additional charge as DGP, Bihar, until further orders, ensuring continuity at the top of the state police force while the government works towards a permanent appointment.
When will Bihar get a permanent DGP?
The Bihar state government has not announced a timeline for the permanent appointment. The present acting arrangement is expected to continue until the selection process is completed and a regular DGP is named.
