MHA mandates 2-year Central deputation as SP/DIG for IPS officers seeking IG rank at Centre

Exam-focused facts from the 3 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) modified guidelines making a minimum two years of Central deputation at Superintendent of Police (SP) or Deputy Inspector General (DIG) level mandatory for empanelment as Inspector General (IG) or equivalent at the Centre.
The revised rule applies to IPS officers of the 2011 batch onwards.
The official communication was sent to all Chief Secretaries of state governments for circulation among IPS officers in their cadres.
Copies were also forwarded to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), all state Directors General of Police (DGsP), Union Territory division of MHA, and other senior officials.