Punjab to Get Regular DGP Soon; UPSC Sends Shortlisted Panel of 3 Senior IPS Officers to State Govt
Babushahi Bureau
CHANDIGRAPH, JULY 9, 2026: In a significant development that paves the way for the appointment of a regular police chief, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has reportedly cleared and forwarded a three-member panel of senior IPS officers to the Punjab Government.
According to sources, the UPSC panel features the names of three top-ranking officers from the state cadre: Sharad Satya Chauhan, Harpreet Singh Sidhu, and current officiating DGP Gaurav Yadav.
The move follows a high-level empanelment committee meeting held recently at the UPSC headquarters in New Delhi to finalize the names based on seniority, merit, and clean service records.
Gaurav Yadav Frontrunner for Top Post
Top sources within the state administration indicate that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is highly likely to seal the selection of Gaurav Yadav as the regular Director General of Police (DGP).
Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer who has been steering the state police force as the officiating DGP, enjoys strong backing from the political leadership due to his proactive stance against organized crime, drug trafficking, and his handling of state law and order.
The Formal Process
The Punjab Government is expected to review the UPSC communication officially within the next few days. Under the Supreme Court’s guidelines (Prakash Singh judgment), the state government must choose one officer from the three-member panel provided by the UPSC to serve a fixed tenure as the regular DGP.