Central Government Appointed IPS Alok Sharma as New SPG Chief

On Friday, the Central government announced the appointment of Alok Sharma, a 1991-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre Indian Police Service officer, as the Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG). The SPG is India premier force responsible for ensuring close security to the Prime Minister of India and their immediate family members.

Currently serving as the Additional Director General in the SPG, Alok Sharma will assume the role of SPG Director from the date he takes charge, and this appointment will continue until further notice. The decision was endorsed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Personnel, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Alok Sharma, IPS (UP:1991), Additional Director General, SPG to the post of Director, Special Protection Group (SPG) from the date of assumption of charge of the post and until further orders."

Alok Sharma, born in 1966 and hailing from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, is a Science graduate (B.Sc.) and joined the Indian Police Service in 1991. With significant experience in various crucial roles in Uttar Pradesh, Sharma assumed the position of Inspector General (IG) in the SPG in 2018, later progressing to his current role as Additional Director General in 2021.

Established in 1988 through an Act of the Parliament of India, the SPG functions as a specialized operations force dedicated to providing immediate security to the Prime Minister and their immediate family members globally. Originally tasked with safeguarding former prime ministers as well, the SPG now focuses solely on the current Prime Minister and their immediate family members residing with them at the official residence, offering a high level of security cover.