Mukesh Singh Appointed as DGP of Ladakh

Mukesh Singh Appointed as DGP of Ladakh

Why in News? 

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed senior IPS officer Mukesh Singh as the new Director General of Police (DGP) for Ladakh, effective immediately, following his repatriation from central deputation. He replaces S.D. Singh Jamwal, who is now DGP Arunachal Pradesh.

Who is Mukesh Singh?

• Early Life: Mukesh Singh was born on 24 January 1971 in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand. He grew up with a strong interest in science and public service. His early academic achievements laid the foundation for a career in public administration and law enforcement.

• Education: He completed his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, one of India’s premier technical institutions. This engineering background gave him strong analytical and problem-solving skills that later helped him in complex policing roles.

• Career: Mukesh Singh joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in the 1996 batch. Upon entry, he was allocated the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) cadre, which later became part of the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) after the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019. This shift broadened his career opportunities across strategic regions. 

• • • In his early years as an IPS officer, Singh served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in several sensitive districts including Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch and Jammu. These postings were during intense periods of terrorism and internal conflict in the region.
    • Singh progressed to senior roles within the Jammu & Kashmir Police. He served as Inspector General of Police (IG) and later as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for the Jammu range. In these positions, he oversaw multiple district units and coordinated large-scale security.
    • Before his current appointment in Ladakh, Mukesh Singh worked on central deputation with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He held senior roles including Inspector General (IG) and Additional Director General (ADG) in the force. 
  • Expertise: Throughout his career, Singh has been known for strong leadership in crisis situations. He has managed counter-terrorism operations, community engagement strategies, and coordination with multiple security agencies.
    • Singh was part of the core team that established the NIA in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. During his tenure at the agency, he served as SP, DIG and IG.
    • He led investigations into some of the country’s most high-profile and sensitive terror cases. 
  • Books: He has a strong background in policing research and operations. He co-authored the book Police Operations and co-published three significant papers: Investigation of Encounter Killings (2016), Police Operations (2015), and Conducting an Anti-Terrorist Operation (2014). 

• Awards: Between 1999 and 2005, he received several top honors for courage, including the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry (2002) and the Police Medal for Gallantry four times (2003, twice in 2005). He was also recognized by the military with the Army Commander’s Commendation Medal (2005) and the DGP’s Commendation Medal (1999). In 2012, he was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service for his long-term dedication.