Rajeev Krishna named Uttar Pradesh DGP, ending 4-year vacancy
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh has finally named a permanent police chief — nearly four years after the post fell vacant. Rajeev Krishna, a 1991-batch IPS officer with three decades of experience in intelligence, field policing, and police modernisation, was selected from a UPSC-forwarded panel of three senior officers.
Key Takeaways
Rajeev Krishna was appointed permanent DGP of Uttar Pradesh on 1 June 2025 by the Yogi Adityanath government.
The post had reportedly been without a full-term incumbent since the removal of Mukul Goyal in 2022 — a gap of nearly four years .
Krishna was selected from a UPSC -forwarded panel that also included Renuka Mishra and Piyush Anand .
A 1991-batch IPS officer , he previously served as DG (Intelligence) and IG (Operations), BSF , and as district police chief in Lucknow , Agra , Mathura , Etawah , and Noida .
He attained the rank of Director General of Police in February 2024 .
Rajeev Krishna, who had been serving as Acting Director General of Police, was on Sunday, 1 June 2025 formally appointed as the permanent Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh by the Yogi Adityanath-led state government. The official order was issued through a notification signed by Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad, ending a vacancy at the top post that had persisted for nearly four years.
Background: A Four-Year Wait
The post of full-term DGP in Uttar Pradesh had reportedly remained without a permanent incumbent since the removal of then-DGP Mukul Goyal in 2022. Krishna had been steering the state police force in an acting capacity in the intervening period. His elevation to the permanent role brings that prolonged interregnum to a close.
How the Appointment Was Finalised
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) forwarded a panel of three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the state government for consideration: 1990-batch officer Renuka Mishra, and 1991-batch officers Piyush Anand and Rajeev Krishna. The UP government selected Krishna, citing his administrative experience, expertise in law-and-order management, and organisational capabilities.
Krishna's Career and Key Postings
A 1991-batch IPS officer, Krishna was born on 26 June 1969 in Gautam Buddha Nagar and joined the service on 15 September 1991. Over a three-decade career, he has held pivotal positions spanning intelligence operations, police modernisation, and field policing. He previously served as Director General (Intelligence) and as Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board.
In field roles, he served as Police Chief in several key districts, including Lucknow, Agra, Mathura, Etawah, and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida). His counter-banditry operations during his tenure in Etawah are particularly noted. He also served as ADG of the Lucknow Zone and, on central deputation, as IG (Operations) in the Border Security Force (BSF). He attained the rank of Director General of Police in February 2024.
What His Appointment Signals
The appointment comes at a time when the Uttar Pradesh government has placed crime control, technology-driven policing, and a law-and-order environment conducive to investment among its stated priorities. Notably, UP is among India's largest states by population and has historically faced complex policing challenges, making the DGP role one of the most consequential in the country's state police apparatus. With a permanent chief now in place, the force is expected to pursue longer-term institutional reforms without the uncertainty that typically accompanies acting arrangements.
Point of View
But the more significant question is whether his elevation will be accompanied by a structural mandate: technology-led policing and investment-friendly law-and-order are stated goals, but UP's policing record on both counts has been uneven. The UPSC process, while procedurally sound, also surfaces a quiet tension — the state government's choice from a panel of three reflects political as well as administrative calculus, and accountability frameworks for the new DGP remain undefined.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new DGP of Uttar Pradesh?
Rajeev Krishna, a 1991-batch IPS officer, has been appointed the permanent Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh. He was previously serving as Acting DGP and was formally elevated on 1 June 2025.
Why had the UP DGP post been vacant for so long?
The post reportedly fell vacant after the removal of then-DGP Mukul Goyal in 2022, and had since been managed on an acting basis. The appointment of Rajeev Krishna ends a gap of nearly four years without a full-term police chief.
How was Rajeev Krishna selected as UP DGP?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) forwarded a panel of three senior IPS officers — Renuka Mishra, Piyush Anand, and Rajeev Krishna — to the Uttar Pradesh government. The state selected Krishna based on his administrative experience, law-and-order expertise, and organisational capabilities.
What is Rajeev Krishna's policing background?
Krishna has over three decades of IPS service, with experience in intelligence operations, police modernisation, and field policing. He has served as DG (Intelligence), Chairman of the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, and as district police chief in Lucknow, Agra, Mathura, Etawah, and Noida.
What are the priorities for the new UP DGP?
The Uttar Pradesh government has stated that crime control, technology-driven policing, and maintaining a law-and-order environment conducive to investment are key priorities for the police force under its new permanent chief.
