It takes a special kind of leader who can rally the troops and deliver the impossible. IPS Prashant Kumar is one such administrator who has proved his mettle time and again over the years.
Prashant Kumar, a distinguished officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) from the 1990 batch, currently serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh, holding additional charge of the Director General of the Economic Offences Wing. Born on May 16, 1965, in Siwan, Bihar, Kumar began his career in the Tamil Nadu cadre before transferring to the Uttar Pradesh cadre in 1994 due to personal reasons.
Kumar’s academic credentials are exemplary, boasting multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Applied Geology, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Disaster Management, and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Defense and Strategic Studies. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi.
Throughout his career, Kumar has held several key positions across Uttar Pradesh, including ASP in Bareilly and Varanasi, SP/SSP in Bhadohi, Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Faizabad, Barabanki, and Saharanpur, and DIG Range in Saharanpur, Faizabad, Mirzapur, and Meerut. His tenure as Additional Director General of Police (ADG) for the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) marked a significant period in the state’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Kumar’s leadership in law enforcement is widely acclaimed, particularly for his role in neutralising organised crime networks. Under his stewardship, “Operation Clean” in Meerut led to the elimination of over 300 listed criminals, including notorious figures like Sanjeev Jeeva and Mukeem Kala. His dynamic and fearless approach has earned him the moniker of “Encounter Specialist.”
His tenure as ADG of Meerut Zone from 2014 to 2024 was marked by several high-profile operations that significantly curtailed criminal activities in the region. His contributions to public safety were further highlighted during the management of sensitive events, including the Ramjanmabhoomi verdict in 2019, protests against the CAA and NRC, and the aftermath of the Kheri violence in 2021.
Recently, Kumar successfully supervised the Maha Kumbh 2025 preparations, leveraging Artificial Intelligence for crowd management and crisis response, setting a benchmark in large-scale event administration.
For his exemplary service, Kumar has been decorated with the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for four consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023).
On the personal front, he is married to Dimple Verma, a retired IAS officer and current member of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). His unwavering commitment to public service and law enforcement continues to set new standards in policing and governance in Uttar Pradesh.
