NEW DELHI –Sonali Mishra, a well-known 1983-batch IPS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre on Friday , officially took over as the new Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). This was a big step forward for India’s railway security and law enforcement. Her appointment is a historic first for the RPF, which has been around for 143 years. She is the first woman to oversee the important force that protects Indian Railways.
The Cabinet’s Appointments Committee (ACC) approved Ms. Mishra’s appointment, which means she would stay in her job as DG, RPF, till she retires on October 31, 2026.
In a news release, the Railway Ministry praised Ms. Mishra as an officer “known for her professionalism, dedication, and leadership across key policing roles.” They also stressed that she brings “over three decades of distinguished service” to her new and important job.
Before this important job, Ms. Mishra worked for the Madhya Pradesh Police in important roles, including as Additional Director General of Police (Selection/Recruitment). In addition to being the ADG, she was also in command of the Police Training & Research Institute in Bhopal and the Madhya Pradesh Police Academy in Bhopal. Her long career includes important jobs with central agencies. She worked for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Border Security Force (BSF). In 2021, she became the first woman Inspector General (IG) to lead forces along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
Ms. Mishra also has useful international experience from working with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo. She has received many prominent awards for her outstanding work in law enforcement, such as the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. These awards show how dedicated she has been to professionalism and excellence throughout her career.
The Railway Ministry is hopeful that Ms. Mishra’s “visionary and inclusive leadership” will substantially help the RPF, which is in charge of protecting railway property, making sure passengers are secure, and stopping crime on one of the world’s busiest rail networks.
It is hoped that her extensive experience with both state and central police organizations will provide the RPF’s ongoing efforts to modernize, increase capacity, and connect with the community “renewed momentum.” The ministry said that Ms. Mishra’s main job will be to “strengthen the RPF’s efforts to use cutting-edge technology and improve its role in stopping organized crime like human trafficking and crimes against vulnerable passengers.”
When Ms. Mishra took over, she expressed her deep gratitude for the chance to serve and reaffirmed her strong commitment to sustaining the core values of the force: vigilance, courage, and service.
The press notice ended with a loud welcome from the RPF, saying, “The Force proudly welcomes its new leader and looks forward to reaching new heights under her leadership.” This marked the beginning of a new era for railway security in India.