IPS Officer Rakesh Balwal Named DIG in CRPF on Deputation

New Delhi/Srinagar, May 29, 2026 — The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned the deputation of IPS officer Rakesh Balwal as Deputy Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force. The official order, dated May 25, 2026, stipulates that the 2012-batch officer will serve under the standard terms of central deputation. The Ministry has urged the Government of Manipur to expedite his release so that he can promptly assume his responsibilities at the Centre.

Rakesh Balwal, originally from Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir, is part of the Manipur cadre of the Indian Police Service. Despite his cadre posting, he has maintained a strong professional presence in his home state, holding various senior positions in Jammu and Kashmir. His latest role was as Senior Superintendent of Police in Srinagar, a tenure marked by significant security challenges.

Balwal brings with him a wealth of experience in counter-terrorism and investigative efforts. He was instrumental in probing the February 2019 Pulwama attack, which resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel. During his over three-and-a-half-year deputation with the National Investigation Agency as Superintendent of Police, he made notable contributions to the investigation of the attack and related cases. Before his Srinagar assignment, he held multiple operational and administrative posts within the Manipur cadre, including Senior Superintendent of Police in Thoubal.

Balwal is a decorated officer, having been awarded the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation, the Chief of Army Staff Commendation, and recognition from the Director General of the CRPF. These accolades reflect his exemplary service in public order maintenance, complex investigations, and coordination between state and central police forces.

The appointment highlights the Indian government's strategy of assigning experienced IPS officers to central paramilitary forces through deputation, facilitating the exchange of expertise across different regions. Balwal’s substantial experience in Jammu and Kashmir’s challenging security landscape, along with his adept investigative skills demonstrated during the Pulwama case, make him well-suited for his new role in the CRPF, which handles internal security and counter-insurgency operations nationwide.

Officials from both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Manipur government are expected to complete the necessary formalities soon, enabling Balwal to take on his new assignment in the coming weeks. His promotion to the rank of DIG in the CRPF is seen as a testament to his professional aptitude and dedication to national security.

This development is being well-received in official and security circles as a positive step towards enhancing the leadership of one of India's foremost central armed police forces.