As reported first by Indianmandarins on 07 February 2017 (web link below), Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar (IPS:1983:UP) was on Wednesday appointed the new Director General of Central Reserve Police Force. He may take the charge this week as he is on official trip to Indonesia currently. Bhatnagar will have approx 02 yrs and 08 months long tenure as CRPF DG. Unfortunately, it has taken the government as many as two months and butchering of as many as 25 CRPF personnel by the Naxals at Sukma in Chhatisgarh to effect the appointment to this critical post. It may be noted that Bhatnagar has been the only IPS officer from the 1983 batch who has been awaiting a DG rank posting. Currently, he serves as DG, Narcotics Control Bureau - an ADG rank post which is temporarily upgraded to a Special DG rank. The largest central para-military force had been headless since 01 March 2017 following the retirement of Kode Durga Prasad (IPS:1981: AP) though Sudeep Lakhtakia (IPS:1984: AP) was made interim DG. Web-link: (News dated 07 Feb 2017) Who will succeed Prasad as DG, CRPF: O P Singh, Bhatnagar or Pachnanda? http://www.indianmandarins.com/who-will-succeed-prasad-as-dg-crpf-o-p-singh-bhatnagar-or-pachnanda/