- Sonali Mishra assumes charge as DG of Railway Police Force (RPF) 1st Women in 143 years.
- Sonali Mishra, a 1993-batch IPS officer (Madhya Pradesh cadre), has been appointed the first woman DG in the 145-year history of RPF. She officially took charge on 1 August 2025, a landmark moment in Indian policing and women’s empowerment.
- Her appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, and she will serve until October 31, 2026.
- Career highlights:
- Former ADG (Selection/Recruitment) and leader at MP Police Academy, Bhopal.
- First woman commander to head BSF’s Punjab Frontier on the India-Pakistan border (2021).
- Headed BSF intelligence, served as IG in Kashmir and in the CBI, and was part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
- Awards: Recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
- As RPF DG, Mishra leads a force responsible for protecting India’s massive railway network, guarding over 23 million daily passengers and securing 68,000 km of railways and 7,000+ stations.
- She is expected to focus on:
- Technology-driven security (AI-based CCTV, facial recognition, drone surveillance).
- Enhanced passenger safety, with special attention to women and child protection (like Operation Nanhe Farishtey).
- Strengthening counter-terrorism coordination with other agencies.
- Significance: Her appointment shatters the glass ceiling in a mostly male-dominated force and marks a big step forward for gender equality in India’s Central Armed Police Forces. She follows the trail blazed by pioneers like Kiran Bedi and Archana Ramasundaram.
- Mishra’s journey from field ops in tough border zones to the top post in RPF is seen as a beacon of inspiration for women in law enforcement and youth across India.
Sonali Mishra’s leadership is a symbol of the changing face of Indian security forces as more women rise to senior positions, bringing experience, empathy, and innovation to public safety. 🇮🇳
