New Delhi: In a series of significant decisions concerning India’s security leadership, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the elevation of senior IPS officer Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat as Additional Director General (ADG) in the Special Protection Group (SPG), granted the prestigious Apex Pay Scale to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Sanjay Singhal, and cleared the appointment of IPS officer Vidhi Kumar Birdi as Inspector General (IG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The appointments and service-related approvals, issued through separate orders by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), reinforce leadership at some of the country’s most important security organisations.
Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat Elevated as Additional Director General in SPG
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Office of Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat, for the appointment of Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat, a 1998-batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer, as Additional Director General in the Special Protection Group.
According to the order issued on June 1, 2026, Bhagat’s appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge of the post and will continue up to May 20, 2027.
The appointment has been made by temporarily upgrading the post presently held by the officer to the level of Additional Director General as a measure personal to the officer.
Bhagat is currently serving in the SPG as Inspector General and has spent nearly eight years in the elite security organisation responsible for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and designated protectees.
Long Association with SPG
Bhagat first joined the SPG on central deputation on May 20, 2018, as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for a period of five years.
Although his original deputation tenure was scheduled to conclude in May 2023, he continued in the organisation after receiving multiple extensions from the Central Government.
Most recently, in April 2025, the Centre extended his deputation tenure by two years until May 20, 2027, allowing him to continue serving in the SPG.
ADG Empanelment Preceded Elevation
The latest elevation comes shortly after Bhagat was empanelled in March 2026 for holding Additional Director General-level posts in the Government of India.
With the approval of the ACC, Bhagat will now continue in the SPG in the rank and capacity of Additional Director General, strengthening the leadership structure of one of India’s most sensitive security organisations.
SSB Director General Sanjay Singhal Granted Apex Pay Scale
In another major decision, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for grant of Apex Pay Scale (Level-17 in the Pay Matrix) to Sanjay Singhal, a 1993-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer and Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal.
The Apex Scale has been granted with effect from June 1, 2026, the date of approval by the ACC.
Singhal currently heads the Sashastra Seema Bal, one of India’s Central Armed Police Forces tasked primarily with guarding the country’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
Distinguished Career in Policing and Border Management
Born on December 27, 1968, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Singhal holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering and joined the Indian Police Service through direct recruitment via the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Singhal has held several key positions in both state and central policing establishments.
Took Charge as SSB Chief in September 2025
Singhal assumed charge as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal on September 1, 2025, succeeding Amrit Mohan Prasad.
He is scheduled to head the force until his superannuation on December 31, 2028.
Prior to becoming DG of SSB, he served as Special Director General in the Border Security Force (BSF) after moving on central deputation in November 2024.
Key Contributions in Uttar Pradesh Police
Before proceeding on central deputation, Singhal served as Additional Director General (Establishment) at the Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters in Lucknow.
During his tenure, he was widely credited with introducing administrative reforms, streamlining service rules, and improving promotion procedures for non-gazetted personnel.
He also held several other senior assignments in Uttar Pradesh Police, including ADG Crime, ADG Railways and ADG Establishment.
Earlier in his career, he served as Superintendent of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police in multiple districts across Uttar Pradesh.
Experience in ITBP and UN Peacekeeping Operations
Singhal also spent a significant part of his career with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), where he rose through important operational assignments and served as Deputy Inspector General and later Inspector General.
His professional profile also includes international experience as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo, where he represented India in peacekeeping operations.
The grant of Apex Pay Scale places him among the highest-ranking police officers in the country and reflects the government’s confidence in his leadership of the border guarding force.
Vidhi Kumar Birdi Appointed Inspector General in CRPF
In a separate development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed senior IPS officer Vidhi Kumar Birdi, a 2003-batch AGMUT cadre officer, as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force on deputation basis.
The appointment was approved by the competent authority against an existing vacancy in the CRPF.
According to the MHA order issued on June 1, 2026, Birdi will serve in the rank of Inspector General (Level-14 in the Pay Matrix).
The Ministry has directed that he be relieved immediately to enable him to take up his new assignment at the Centre.
Appointment Follows Waiver of Cooling-Off Period
Birdi’s appointment comes just days after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved a proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs to waive his mandatory cooling-off period for another central deputation assignment.
The waiver was approved on May 30, 2026, paving the way for his return to a central police organisation.
Earlier Served in CRPF
Birdi is no stranger to the CRPF. He had previously served as Inspector General in the force before being prematurely repatriated in September 2023.
Following his repatriation, he returned to his parent AGMUT cadre and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
With the latest appointment, Birdi returns to the country’s largest paramilitary force at a time when the organisation continues to play a critical role in internal security, counter-insurgency operations and election-related deployments across the country.
Strengthening India’s Security Leadership
The three decisions collectively underscore the Centre’s continued focus on strengthening leadership across key security and border management institutions.
While Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat’s elevation reinforces the command structure of the SPG, Sanjay Singhal’s grant of Apex Scale recognizes his distinguished service and leadership of the SSB. Simultaneously, Vidhi Kumar Birdi’s appointment brings an experienced officer back to the CRPF, further bolstering the leadership of the country’s internal security apparatus.
