New Delhi: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Central government has approved the inter-cadre deputation of Mukesh Singh, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Ladakh, to the Manipur cadre. The 1996-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the AGMUT cadre is expected to assume charge as the new police chief of Manipur shortly, officials confirmed.
Centre Approves Deputation Amid Security Concerns
The decision, characterized as a “special case in public interest,” was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on May 21, 2026. The move involved a relaxation of standard inter-cadre deputation rules and a waiver of the mandatory cooling-off period. The proposal was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 15, 2026.
Mukesh Singh’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Manipur, which has been grappling with deep-seated ethnic conflicts, armed militias, and cross-border insurgent activities. His extensive experience in handling counter-insurgency and internal security operations is expected to bolster the state’s security architecture.
Rajiv Singh Reassigned to Cabinet Secretariat
The current DGP of Manipur, Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, has been appointed as Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat. Rajiv Singh had been leading the Manipur police since June 1, 2023, navigating the state through a period of intense ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023.
The role of Secretary (Security) heads the administrative framework of the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for the security of the Prime Minister and his immediate family members.
Mukesh Singh’s Background and Experience
Mukesh Singh, born in Bokaro Steel City, is a B.Tech graduate in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. He joined the IPS in 1996 and was initially assigned to the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, which later merged into the AGMUT cadre.
Throughout his nearly three-decade career, Singh has gained a reputation as a specialist in counter-terrorism and internal security. His operational experience includes significant assignments in militancy-affected regions such as Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch, and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also served as Inspector General (IG) of Police, Jammu Range, and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone, among other key roles. Furthermore, he was part of the core team involved in establishing the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Before his current deputation to Manipur, Singh had recently taken charge as the DGP of Ladakh around January 15, 2026. His transition from Ladakh to Manipur underscores the Central government’s strategy of deploying experienced officers to strategically sensitive and high-priority security theatres.
The Chenab Times News Desk