SPG Director Alok Sharma to stay for another nine months
New Delhi, June 25
In a key administrative move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has cleared a nine-month extension in service for Alok Sharma, Director of the Special Protection Group.
Sharma, a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed to the post on 17 November 2023 and was due to retire this month.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday, Sharma will now continue as SPG chief from July 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027, or until further orders.
The extension has been granted in relaxation of Fundamental Rule 56(d) and the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
Officials said the decision reflects the government's confidence in Sharma's leadership and his ability to steer the elite force through evolving security challenges.
With decades of policing and security experience, Sharma has been credited with modernising SPG operations and strengthening its protective protocols.
The SPG, raised in 1985 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, functions under the Cabinet Secretariat and is tasked with providing the highest level of security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, their immediate families, and other designated protectees.
Over the years, it has earned a reputation as one of the most professional and specialised security agencies in the world.
Sharma's extended tenure is expected to provide continuity in the organisation's leadership at a time when VIP security remains a sensitive and high-stakes responsibility.
The order was issued from the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Nine months extension... hmm, why not a full year? But I guess the government knows what's best. SPG needs stability, especially after that security breach in Jharkhand last year. Let's hope this brings better coordination.
Good move by the Appointments Committee. Alok Sharma is a seasoned IPS officer from UP cadre, knows the security landscape well. But I hope the extension is performance-based and not just routine. We need SPG to be future-ready.
Interesting. SPG changed a lot since the 80s. Reading about its origins after Indira Gandhi's assassination is sobering. Hope the modernisation continues under Sharma's leadership. Security protocols need constant evolution.
Extension is fine, but why only nine months? Either trust him fully or get someone new. This half-baked extension creates uncertainty. Also, we need more transparency in such appointments. Just my two paise. 🤔
SPG has a global reputation as a top-tier security agency. This extension suggests continuity is valued. I've worked with similar agencies abroad and can say leadership stability is key for such sensitive roles. Good decision.
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