In a significant administrative move, the Uttar Pradesh government has named 1991 batch IPS officer Rajeev Krishna as the new Director General of Police (DGP). Krishna will simultaneously retain his roles as Director of Vigilance and Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB), consolidating considerable authority under one officer.
Krishna, who took charge on May 31, steps into the role amid rising public safety concerns. According to state crime data, organized crime has risen by 17%, and cybercrime by 23% compared to the previous year. His predecessor, acting DGP Prashant Kumar, exited the post without securing a service extension, after an 18-month term marked by controversial decisions and inconsistent reform outcomes.
While Krishna’s administrative efficiency demonstrated during the recent re-conducted police constable exams is well acknowledged, his elevation over 11 senior officers has triggered murmurs within the IPS community.
Notably, many of those overlooked have distinguished credentials in counter-terror operations and public facing policing. His past tenure as ATS chief also draws mixed reactions; National Crime Records Bureau data shows only a 38% conviction rate in terrorism cases handled under his watch between 2007 and 2012. Critics suggest that Krishna’s latest promotion continues a pattern wherein trusted bureaucrats are handed multiple portfolios, blurring lines of accountability.
With the state preparing for the 2027 assembly elections, Krishna's ability to maintain operational independence while managing political expectations will be closely watched. The coming months will test whether this administrative reshuffle strengthens policing or further centralizes control in the hands of select officers.
