UPSC Panel Meets Today to Decide Odisha’s Next DGP
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is holding a crucial meeting today, August 7, 2026, to finalise a shortlist of three candidates for the post of Odisha’s next Director General of Police (DGP).
In May, the Odisha government submitted a list of 11 eligible IPS officers, later expanded at the UPSC’s request.
As per Supreme Court guidelines, the Commission must prepare a panel of three names, from which the state government will appoint one officer.
Eligibility requires a minimum of 25 years of service and at least six months of residual service from the date of vacancy.
Among the contenders are senior officers such as Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch, already at DGP rank), Susanta Kumar Nath and R.P. Koche (1993 batch, DGP rank), and Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa (1994 batch).
Officers from the 1995 and 1996 batches, including Ritu Arora, Saumendra Priyadarshi, Santosh Bala, P.S. Ranpise, Arun Bothra, and Sunita Kakran, are also in consideration.
Vinaytosh Mishra is excluded due to insufficient residual service.
The UPSC’s recommendations will play a decisive role in shaping Odisha’s police leadership, ensuring transparency and merit-based selection in line with judicial directives.
