As the year 2025 ends and the new year 2026 begins, Jharkhand is awaiting the appointment of a new top cop of the state as in- service Director General of Police(DGP), Tadasha Mishra, is going to retire on December 31.

Tadasha Mishra was a 1994 batch IPS officer. In a major milestone, she has gained a credible status in the Indian Police Service. Ahead of her retirement, speculation is going on in the corridors of power on whether she will get an extension. Another linked question is -who will succeed her as DGP of the state? 

Reliable information available is that she may not get an extension and any one three IPS officers can succeed her as Acting DGP or full-time DGP. They are: Anil Palta, Prashant Singh and M.S.Bhatia.

*Anil Palta,1990 batch, who is DG of the Railway, is slated to retire on December 2, 2026. It means he has less than a year of service.

*Prashant Singh, IPS of 1992, who is DG Wireless, who is Chairman of Jharkhand State IPS Association, has a long service period left. He is going to retire on May 8, 2028. 
*M.S. Bhatia,1993 batch, who is DG/Commandant General of Home Guards & Fire Services, is slated to retire from service on February 17, 2029.
 

Early this year in January 2025, a committee was set up to select and appoint the DGP from among the senior IPS officers in the light of the guidelines of the Union Public Service Commission and the Supreme Court.On the basis of this Committee’s recommendation,Anurag Gupta was appointed as DGP. Now, if the same procedure is followed,the names of the above three IPS officers ought to be considered.

There is another possibility. The ruling dispensation led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren may prefer one of the above IPS officers as Acting DGP.

However, if a rumour going viral in the ruling establishment is to be believed,Prashant Singh ahead in the race to become DGP .