The Gujarat government on Saturday, 6 June appointed Gyanender Singh Malik, Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, as the new Director General and Inspector General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat, with immediate effect. The appointment fills a vacancy at the top of the state police hierarchy that had been managed under an interim arrangement for several months.

The Official Notification

The Home Department of the Gujarat government issued a formal notification confirming the appointment. The notification stated: 'Gyanender Singh Malik, IPS (GJ:1993), Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad City, is appointed on the vacant cadre post of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Gujarat State with immediate effect.'

Malik succeeds the interim arrangement under senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer K. L. N. Rao, who had been holding charge of the post following the retirement of former DGP Vikas Sahay at the end of 2025.

Profile: Who Is Gyanender Singh Malik

Malik is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, originally from Haryana, who joined the service in January 1994. He holds degrees in both engineering and law, and brings more than three decades of policing and administrative experience to the role.

Before taking charge as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner in July 2023 — as part of a major reshuffle of senior IPS officers in Gujarat — he served on central deputation with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as Additional Director General (North). He has held a range of key positions across the state and at the Centre throughout his career.

Among his honours, Malik received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010 and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2017. Earlier this year, he was also elected president of the Gujarat IPS Officers' Association.

Tenure and Responsibilities

According to official service records, Malik is due to retire in November 2028, giving him a tenure of more than two years as Gujarat's police chief. The role places him at the helm of policing in one of India's most industrialised states, with responsibilities spanning law and order, crime investigation, internal security, and the management of major public events.

Context and Significance

The appointment ends a period of uncertainty at the top of the Gujarat Police following Vikas Sahay's retirement. Notably, the transition to a substantive DGP comes at a time when Gujarat's policing challenges are growing in complexity — from industrial corridor security to high-profile event management. With a settled leadership now in place, the force is expected to move forward on pending administrative and operational priorities.