New Delhi: A series of resignations by young Indian Police Service (IPS) officers has reignited discussions about changing career aspirations within India’s civil services. The latest case involves 2025 batch Odisha cadre IPS officer C.A. Ramdas, who resigned while undergoing Phase I training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, before taking up his first field posting.
His resignation comes shortly after Jagmohan Meena, a 2013 batch Odisha cadre IPS officer and former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Bhubaneswar, also resigned from the service. The two exits have drawn attention because they follow a broader pattern observed in recent months.
According to available information, eight IPS officers have resigned in the past few months, with seven of them reportedly below the age of 40. The trend has prompted discussions about why some officers are choosing to leave one of India’s most prestigious public services.
Several former officers have reportedly pursued careers outside policing. Siddharth Kaushal, a 2012 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer, is reported to have joined Reliance Industries, while Lokeshwar Singh, a 2014 batch Uttarakhand cadre IPS officer, has reportedly taken up a United Nations-linked assignment. Former 2013 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IPS officer Abhishek Tiwari has moved into entrepreneurship after serving in cybercrime investigations. The resignations of Kamya Mishra and Nurul Hoda also attracted public attention.
The resignations come at a time when the Indian Police Service is already facing a significant manpower shortage. Earlier this year, the Union Government informed Parliament that more than 500 IPS posts remain vacant, affecting not only state police forces but also central agencies such as the CBI, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other organizations.
While no common official reason has been cited for these resignations, each case appears to reflect individual career choices. Collectively, however, they have triggered a wider conversation about work-life balance, professional opportunities, and the evolving aspirations of young civil servants in India.
