IPS officer Rajeev Krishna is one of India’s most distinguished police officers, whose appointment as the full-time Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh on May 31, 2026 marked the end of nearly four years of uncertainty at the top of India’s largest police force.
A 1991-batch IPS officer with over 35 years of service, Rajeev Krishna has built a career defined by operational excellence, technological innovation in policing, and a clean professional image that earned him the trust of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government.
His appointment brings stability and experienced leadership to a force facing complex challenges in cybercrime, organised crime, and law enforcement modernisation.
Profile
| Full Name | Rajeev Krishna |
| Born | June 20 / June 26, 1969 (slight variation across sources; born in Lucknow) |
| Age | Approximately 56–57 years |
| Birthplace | Lucknow / Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Indian Police Service Officer (IPS), 1991 Batch, UP Cadre |
| Current Position | Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh; Director General, Vigilance Establishment |
| Spouse | Meenakshi Singh (Indian Revenue Service officer, Income Tax Commissioner, Lucknow) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly declared |
Early Life
Rajeev Krishna was born in 1969 in Uttar Pradesh, different sources give Lucknow and Gautam Buddha Nagar as his place of origin, suggesting a family connection to both. He grew up in a family with deep connections to India’s civil services sector. Multiple members of his immediate and extended family have distinguished themselves in public service, creating an environment in which the values of institutional commitment, professional integrity, and public service were foundational elements of his upbringing.
Growing up in this environment, Rajeev developed an early interest in the competitive civil services pathway that represents one of the most prestigious career options in India. He pursued engineering at the undergraduate level, demonstrating the academic discipline and analytical aptitude that would later define his approach to technology-driven policing, an area in which he would become particularly well-regarded.
Education
Rajeev Krishna holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, an educational background that proved particularly valuable in his later career as one of UP Police’s advocates for technology-driven law enforcement. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1991, joining the Indian Police Service as a Direct Recruit on September 15, 1991. His engineering background has been reflected throughout his career in his consistent championing of technological solutions to policing challenges, from CCTV surveillance systems to data-driven crime prevention strategies.
Career
Rajeev Krishna joined the Indian Police Service on September 15, 1991, assigned to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He began his career as a trainee IPS officer in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Over the subsequent decades, he built a comprehensive portfolio of postings across the length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh, developing expertise across law enforcement operations, crime prevention, intelligence, and police administration.
His early career included positions as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Bareilly, Kanpur, and Aligarh, major UP cities with distinct and complex policing challenges. He subsequently served as Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in multiple districts including Firozabad, Etawah, Mathura, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Agra, and Lucknow. Each of these postings expanded his operational experience and reputation for professional reliability.
During the tenure of Chief Minister Mayawati, he served as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Lucknow and subsequently as Inspector General (IG) of the Meerut Range, two demanding postings in key administrative and law enforcement zones of the state. In 2012, he went on central deputation, bringing him exposure to central government policing institutions and national-level security perspectives. He returned to Uttar Pradesh in 2017 and went on to serve as ADG of the Lucknow and Agra zones.
His reputation grew significantly through his association with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration, where he became one of the most trusted senior officers in the state. He served as DG of Police Recruitment Board and DG of Vigilance, roles that placed him at the centre of institutional integrity and reform in UP’s largest government workforce. He was serving as Acting DGP from June 1, 2025, following the retirement of Prashant Kumar, before being appointed on a full-time basis on May 31, 2026.
His appointment as permanent DGP came at the conclusion of a UPSC shortlisting process on May 26, 2026, which considered three senior officers, Renuka Mishra (IPS:1990:UP), Piyush Anand (IPS:1991:UP), and Rajeev Krishna. The state government’s choice of Krishna made him the first permanent DGP of Uttar Pradesh since Mukul Goel was removed from the post in May 2022, ending a four-year period of instability at the top of India’s largest state police force. In line with Supreme Court directives from the Prakash Singh case, he is guaranteed a minimum two-year tenure. With retirement due in June 2029, he is set to lead UP Police for approximately three years.
Throughout his career, Rajeev Krishna has received significant honours for his service, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2015), Police Medal for Gallantry (2009), and Police Medal for Gallantry (2002).
Awards & Honours
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service – 2015
- Police Medal for Gallantry – 2009
- Police Medal for Gallantry – 2002
Social Media
As a serving senior IPS officer and DGP, Rajeev Krishna does not maintain a personal public social media profile in the conventional sense. Official communications from the Office of the DGP, Uttar Pradesh, are disseminated through the official UP Police social media channels, press releases, and institutional communications.
Personal Life
Rajeev Krishna is married to Meenakshi Singh, an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) who serves as Income Tax Commissioner in Lucknow. Their family is a remarkable example of a multi-institutional civil services household: his brother-in-law Rajeshwar Singh is a former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who currently serves as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Sarojininagar constituency in Lucknow. His sister-in-law Lakshmi Singh is the Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddha Nagar. This family background in civil and law enforcement services has been a significant part of his personal identity and professional ethos.
Net Worth
Specific financial information about Rajeev Krishna’s personal net worth is not publicly available. As a government servant of over 35 years, his income has been drawn from the IPS pay scale, which at the DGP level falls under Pay Level 16 in the Central Government Pay Matrix, one of the highest salary bands in India’s civil services. Any additional assets or income declarations would be subject to government service rules and are not in the public domain.
FAQs
Who is Rajeev Krishna IPS?
Rajeev Krishna is a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre who was appointed as the full-time Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh on May 31, 2026, the state’s first permanent police chief since 2022.
What is Rajeev Krishna’s educational background?
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication Engineering and cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1991.
Who is Rajeev Krishna’s wife?
His wife is Meenakshi Singh, an IRS officer serving as Income Tax Commissioner in Lucknow.
What awards has Rajeev Krishna received?
He has received the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2015) and two Police Medals for Gallantry (2002 and 2009).
When was Rajeev Krishna appointed DGP UP?
He was appointed as the full-time DGP of Uttar Pradesh on May 31, 2026, ending nearly four years without a permanent police chief in the state.
Conclusion
Rajeev Krishna’s appointment as Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police represents both a personal milestone and an institutional moment of significance for India’s most populous state. His 35-year career, marked by operational distinction, medals for gallantry, and the trust of the state’s leadership, positions him as a capable steward of UP Police at a critical time. As he leads India’s largest state police force into the challenges of cybercrime, organised crime, and policing modernisation over the coming years, his background in engineering and technology-led policing may prove as valuable as his decades of field experience.