Appointment of Alok Sharma as New Special Protection Group (SPG) Chief

The Central Government selected Alok Sharma, a 1991-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre Indian Police Service officer, as Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG). The decision was made after the Cabinet Appointments Committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted Alok Sharma's nomination as the new SPG chief. Alok Sharma, who is currently deputed as Additional Director General in the SPG, has been granted the new duty of SPG Director from the date of assumption of charge and till further instructions.

Special Protection Group (SPG)

• The Special Protection Group (SPG) is a government body whose only mission is to safeguard India's Prime Minister. 
• The Prime Minister is always protected by the SPG, whether in India and overseas, as are the Prime Minister's close family members who live with them at their official house.
• It was established in 1988 by an Act of the Indian Parliament.
• It solely protects the Prime Minister of India and their close family members who live at the official home. 
• Former prime ministers were previously protected, but they are now given Z+ security protection.

Command and Control

• The Director, who is responsible for the force's leadership and oversight, technically serves as the Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.
• Since its formation, the SPG's director has been an officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS), and he now has the rank of Director General of Police. 
• The SPG does not conduct direct recruitment. Instead, recruits are selected from the ranks of the Central Armed Police Forces and the Railway Protection Force. 
• Deputation to the SPG typically lasts five years, but may be extended at the discretion of the Director. 
• Officers of the SPG are recruited from the IPS and are responsible for leadership and coordination.

Current Responsibilities of SPG

• The current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is the sole person under SPG protection.
• From 1991 till 2019, Sonia Gandhi and her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were assigned SPG protection. 
• On November 8, 2019, the Government of India revoked their SPG security credentials and replaced them with Z+ Security. 
• Following the removal of an SPG detail for Modi's predecessor, Manmohan Singh, the government made this choice.
• SPG members are free from personal security screening at all Indian airports and have access to VIP lounges at airports controlled by the Airports Authority of India. 
• They are also free from security screening while accessing some government facilities, such as the Prime Minister's Office and Residence.

About Alok Sharma

• Alok Sharma, IPS (UP:1991) is the SPG's Additional Director General.
• It seeks the position of Director, Special Protection Group (SPG) from the date of appointment until further instructions.
• Alok Sharma was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 1966. 
• He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Science.
• He has held a number of high-level jobs in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• In 1991, he joined the Indian Police Service. He has held a number of high-level jobs in the state of Uttar Pradesh. 
• Sharma has been working as Inspector General (IG) in the SPG since February 28, 2018, prior to his deployment as Additional Director General in the SPG in 2021.