IPS Sonali Mishra Appointed as First Woman Director General of Railway Protection Force

India has reached a significant milestone with the appointment of IPS officer Sonali Mishra as the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), marking her as the first woman to lead this central security force in its 145-year history. Her appointment is a landmark advancement in gender equality within India's uniformed services, particularly in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

A Historic Appointment to Head RPF

The RPF is integral to the security of India's extensive railway network, which serves over 23 million passengers each day. Sonali Mishra’s appointment is not only a move towards bolstering railway security but also a significant breakthrough in women's leadership within law enforcement.

Who Is Sonali Mishra?

Attribute	Details
Service Cadre	IPS, 1993 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre
New Role	Director General, Railway Protection Force (assumes office August 1, 2025)
Previous Post	Special DG (Selection & Recruitment), MP Police
Awards	President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service

Mishra is recognized for her discipline, operational skills, and integrity, having held significant leadership positions in intelligence, counter-terrorism, and personnel management at both state and central levels.

Sonali Mishra’s Three-Decade IPS Journey

Trailblazer in the Border Security Force (BSF)

• First woman to command a BSF Frontier along the India-Pakistan border (Punjab, 2021).
• Former IG of BSF Kashmir, directing anti-terror operations in conflict zones.
• Headed BSF’s Intelligence Wing and rose to Additional DG (Eastern Command).

Versatile Central & State-Level Experience

• Deputed to CBI and the UN’s CIVPOL mission in Kosovo.
• Led recruitment and human resource reforms in the Madhya Pradesh Police as ADG and Special DG.

Her extensive experience in field operations, intelligence, and inter-agency leadership positions her uniquely to lead RPF’s national mandate successfully.

What is the Railway Protection Force (RPF)?

• A Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Railways.
• Governed by the RPF Act, 1957, with a sanctioned strength of over 74,000 personnel.
• Responsibilities include:
  • Safeguarding railway property and infrastructure.
  • Protecting passengers on 2,500 long-distance trains daily.
  • Working with the Government Railway Police (GRP) for station-level policing.

Operating across 68,000 km of railway lines and over 7,000 stations, the RPF is one of India’s most logistically complex forces.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in CAPFs

Sonali Mishra becomes only the second woman to lead a CAPF in India, following Archana Ramasundaram, who headed the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in 2016. Her appointment is a significant triumph for gender representation in security leadership roles.

Expected Vision & Priorities for RPF

While her official agenda will be announced after August 1, security experts anticipate the following priorities:

Counter-terror intelligence: Enhancing data-sharing protocols with GRP, IB, and state ATS units to prevent terror threats.

Enhanced passenger safety: Increasing women-led RPF units, panic alert systems, and rapid mobile response teams.

Technology-driven security: Implementing AI-based CCTV analytics, facial recognition, and drone surveillance.

Child protection (Operation Nanhe Farishtey): Strengthening the nationwide initiative that has reunited over 84,000 children with their families since 2018.

Women Rising in India’s Uniformed Forces

Mishra joins a distinguished group of women pioneers in security:

Name	Achievement	Year
Kiran Bedi	First woman IPS officer	1972
Archana Ramasundaram	First woman DG of a CAPF (SSB)	2016
Rekha Mishra	RPF Inspector who rescued hundreds of missing children	2018–19

India's commitment to a 10% reservation for women in CAPFs, along with leadership mentoring initiatives, is gradually transforming a traditionally male-dominated sector.

Key Challenges Awaiting the New RPF Chief

Coordination with GRP & state police: Effective jurisdictional synergy is crucial during emergencies or crowd-control situations.

Crime surge on trains: Despite successes like Operation Nanhe Farishtey, crimes against women and children remain significant concerns.

Track & station vulnerability: Ensuring the security of 68,000 km of tracks through naxal, terror, and urban risk zones.

Manpower shortage: Facing over 13,000 vacancies, there is an urgent need for tech-focused upskilling of personnel.

Conclusion

Sonali Mishra’s appointment as DG of RPF is not just a career achievement—it symbolizes progress for India’s security forces. Her legacy of courage, professionalism, and reformist zeal is poised to transform how rail safety is perceived and executed.

As her appointment resonates across India’s train networks, it signifies not just safer journeys, but a journey toward equal opportunity, national resilience, and gender-balanced policing.