VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved key top-level appointments in India’s border guarding forces, with senior IPS officers Praveen Kumar and Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor being appointed as Director Generals of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), respectively.
According to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the ACC cleared the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for these appointments on January 14, 2026.
Shri Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the Border Security Force. He is presently serving as Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. His appointment to the BSF post will be in Level-16 of the pay matrix and will take effect from the date he assumes charge. He will hold the position until September 30, 2030, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The BSF, India’s largest border guarding force, is responsible for guarding the country’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as performing key internal security duties. Praveen Kumar’s appointment comes at a time when the force continues to face complex challenges related to border management, cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and internal security operations.
Simultaneously, the ACC has approved the appointment of Shri Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, as the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Kapoor, who is presently working in cadre, will take over the ITBP leadership in Level-17 of the pay matrix. His tenure will extend until October 31, 2026, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor will succeed Praveen Kumar as the ITBP chief. The ITBP is tasked with guarding the India-China border across difficult Himalayan terrain and also plays a crucial role in internal security, disaster response, and UN peacekeeping missions.
The appointments underline the government’s focus on experienced leadership at the helm of key central armed police forces, particularly at a time of evolving border security challenges and heightened strategic significance along India’s frontiers.
The order has been communicated to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other concerned authorities for necessary action.
