MP may get first woman DGP as Pragya Richa Srivastava joins race
By Priya NairLeadership & Growth Editor, Peepals Shakti
Representative image: RosZie / Pixabay
Madhya Pradesh sent 12 names to UPSC for its next DGP; 1991-batch officer Pragya Richa Srivastava could become its first woman police chief.
What Happened
Madhya Pradesh could get its first woman Director General of Police, with senior IPS officer Pragya Richa Srivastava among the leading names after the state sent a list of 12 officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the post, according to reports around October 24, 2026. The current DGP, Kailash Makwana, retires on November 30, 2026. UPSC will shortlist a panel of three from the state's list, and the state government will then choose the new police chief. Srivastava, a 1991-batch officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, is now Director General of the Home Guards. No appointment has been made.
Key Facts
- Madhya Pradesh has sent UPSC the names of 12 senior IPS officers for the post of Director General of Police.
- UPSC will select a panel of three; its meeting is expected in the first week of November, according to reports.
- DGP Kailash Makwana retires on November 30, 2026.
- Pragya Richa Srivastava is a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and currently heads the Home Guards as Director General.
- She has previously headed the state police's Women Safety wing and led disaster response work, according to reports.
- If chosen, she would be the first woman to head the Madhya Pradesh Police.
- Other officers mentioned as strong contenders are Varun Kapoor, head of prisons, and Upendra Jain, head of the Economic Offences Wing.
Why It Matters
The top post in a state police force is one of the most powerful jobs in Indian administration. The DGP commands the state's entire police force, shapes the response to crime and public order, and sets the tone for how the force treats citizens. Very few women have held the job. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, who became DGP of Uttarakhand, is remembered as the first woman to lead any state's police in India, and the number who have followed remains small. Madhya Pradesh, one of the country's largest states, has never had one.
The selection process explains why the outcome is still open. Under the procedure now used for appointing police chiefs, a state sends UPSC a list of eligible senior officers. UPSC, after weighing seniority, service record and experience, returns a panel of three, and the state picks one of them. Being named in the media as a frontrunner does not guarantee a place on the panel, and the state's final choice is its own. That is why reports describe Srivastava's appointment as a possibility rather than a likelihood.
For women in the civil and police services, the significance goes beyond one officer. Women officers now reaching the top of the seniority list have often led specialised wings; whether they are given command of whole forces is a test of how far the services have moved. Srivastava's record at the head of the Women Safety wing would also bring direct experience of one of the most sensitive areas of policing to the top job.
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| State list | 12 officers sent to UPSC | Done, about October 24 |
| UPSC panel | Three names shortlisted | Meeting expected early November |
| State decision | One officer appointed DGP | Before November 30 retirement |
Impact
Short-term: UPSC's shortlist, expected in early November, will show whether Srivastava is among the three names the state can choose from.
Long-term: The appointment of a woman DGP in a large state would add to the small number of women who have led a police force in India and could encourage more women officers to aim for command roles.
Who is affected: Senior IPS officers in Madhya Pradesh, the state's police personnel, women officers across the services, and citizens whose safety the force is responsible for.
Key Takeaway
Pragya Richa Srivastava is among the leading contenders to become Madhya Pradesh's first woman police chief, but the UPSC panel and the state's final choice, due before November 30, will decide.
Questions and Answers
Will Madhya Pradesh get its first woman DGP?
It is possible. Pragya Richa Srivastava is among 12 officers whose names the state sent to UPSC, and reports place her among the leading contenders. No decision has been made.
Who is Pragya Richa Srivastava?
She is a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, currently Director General of the Home Guards, who has earlier headed the state police's Women Safety wing.
When will the new Madhya Pradesh DGP be chosen?
DGP Kailash Makwana retires on November 30, 2026. UPSC is expected to meet in early November to shortlist three officers, after which the state will choose.
How is a state DGP selected?
The state sends UPSC a list of eligible senior officers, UPSC prepares a panel of three, and the state government appoints one of them.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Priya Nair, Leadership & Growth EditorCovers Leadership & Growth and more for Peepals Shakti. All stories by Priya Nair
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