Bhubaneswar, July 24: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) and 1990-batch IPS officer Y. B. Khurania will retire from service on August 16. The state government has approved his retirement, following which the Home Department has issued an official notification.

Khurania was scheduled to retire in March 2026 after attaining the age of 60. However, his tenure as DGP was extended until August 16, 2026, to ensure compliance with the rule mandating a minimum two-year tenure for the state police chief.

Meanwhile, the process to appoint the next DGP has begun. In accordance with UPSC guidelines, the Odisha government has forwarded a list of 11 senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consideration.

The officers shortlisted by the state government include Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch), Sushant Nath and R. P. Koche (1993 batch), Sanjeeb Panda and Yashwant Kumar Jethwa (1994 batch), Ritu Arora, Soumendra Priyadarshi, Santosh Bala and P. S. Ranpise (1995 batch), and Arun Bothra and Sunita Kakran (1996 batch).

According to reports, Fire Services DGP Sudhanshu Sarangi and Intelligence Director R. P. Koche are among the frontrunners for the post. ADG Sanjeeb Panda and Vigilance Director Yashwant Kumar Jethwa are also being considered strong contenders.

The Home Department had collected the biodata and service details of the 11 officers before sending their profiles, including academic qualifications and professional records, to the UPSC.

Under the UPSC norms for DGP selection, an officer must have 25 to 30 years of service experience, a clean service record, and at least six months of service remaining before retirement. A selection panel comprising the Union Home Secretary, Odisha Chief Secretary, serving DGP, and a UPSC member will review the eligible officers and prepare a panel of three names. The state government will then select one officer from the panel.

The empanelment committee meeting is expected to be held on August 7.

While seniority remains an important factor, some senior officers are unlikely to be considered due to deputation status or retirement timelines. Swapna Tiwari (1992 batch), senior to Sushant Nath, is currently on central deputation, while Binayatosh Mishra (1993 batch), senior to R. P. Koche, is serving as Crime Branch DGP. Both are expected to retire in the coming months.

Similarly, R. K. Sharma (1995 batch) is due to retire by the end of 2026. As per UPSC guidelines, these officers are unlikely to remain in the race for the DGP post.