UPSC rejects Anurag Gupta as Jharkhand DGP, promotion meet stalled

In a fresh flashpoint between the Centre and the Jharkhand government, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has refused to recognise Anurag Gupta (IPS:1990:JH) as the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), leading to the postponement of a crucial IPS promotion meeting scheduled for Tuesday (August 12, 2025).

The meeting, meant to promote 17 senior Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) to the Indian Police Service (IPS) against nine vacant posts, was to be attended by Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari (IAS:1998:JH), Home Secretary Vandana Dadel (IAS:1996:JH), and DGP Anurag Gupta. However, UPSC, in a letter to the state government a day before the meeting, objected to Gupta’s inclusion, citing its non-recognition of his appointment.

Despite the objection, state officials attended and argued that Gupta’s appointment complied with Jharkhand’s DGP appointment rules. UPSC remained unconvinced, and the meeting was called off without a new date being fixed.

The list of officers awaiting promotion includes Shivendra, Radha Prem Kishore, Mukesh Kumar Mahato, Deepak Kumar-1, Mazrool Hoda, Rajesh Kumar, Avinash Kumar, Roshan Gudiya, Shriram Samad, Nisha Murmu, Surjeet Kumar, Virendra Kumar Chaudhary, Rahul Dev Badaik, Christopher Kerketta, Prabhat Ranjan Barwar, Anoop Kumar Badaik, and Sameer Kumar Tirkey.

The standoff stems from the Centre’s stance that Gupta retired on April 30, 2025, and that his continued tenure is unconstitutional. While the Centre has termed Jharkhand’s DGP appointment rules as contrary to national norms, the state government maintains that Gupta’s service extension is valid.

This deadlock has left the fate of the pending IPS promotions hanging in balance, with no resolution in sight.

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