IPS officers from the 1985 batch are distressed that even as their IAS counterparts have already been empanelled as Secretary to the Govt of India, their chance of getting empanelled in the DG rank at the Center in 2017 looks bleak. Amid the empanelment process underway, IPS officers of several batches are watching with apprehension the prospects of 1985 batch officers for DG empanelment. Even though the crucial 360 process is completed, the batch will have to wait for another couple of months for empanelment. The critical question is how many would be accommodated as DG at the Center. It may be noted that as many as 28 officers were empanelled as ADG in Govt of India. However, four have already retired and four will retire next year. For those who may retire next year, the outlook to become DGs is meaningless even if few of them get empanelled as DG. If some well places sources are to be believed there are only 18 officers left in the final leg of DG empanelment - of which five may be empanelled as DG equivalent straightaway and twelve may be empanelled as DG or DG Equivalent. It may be underlined that of the 18 officers, two would retire in early 2019 and two in late 2019. So it sounds convincing that 13 may be empanelled as DG and five as DG equivalent. It is well known that, in the selection of DGs, the Govt gives preference to those who are already serving at the center as they are considered familiar with the functioning of Central Police Organisations and they do not require to go through the cumbersome process of NOCs from respective state govts. From this point of view, it may be worth underlining that currently, only 11 IPS officers (1985 batch) are serving at the center. Of these 11 officers, 02 are serving in RAW, 02 in IB whereas; and 03 will retire in the year of empanelment i.e. 2018. This may hold the clue to the appointment of nine officers as DG in CPOs in addition to four who may be promoted in RAW and IB itself. (Continued....)