For thousands of UPSC aspirants, securing a place in the Indian Police Service is the culmination of years of relentless preparation. For Jagmohan Meena, however, it was a milestone in a journey that has been defined by making unconventional decisions. The 2013-batch IPS officer from Odisha, currently serving as deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in Bhubaneswar, has decided to quit the service at the age of 37, saying the transfer is motivated by personal reasons and long-term career planning.His announcement has attracted widespread attention, not only for its timing but also for the path it has taken. An IIT Kanpur graduate, UPSC passer with All India Rank (AIR) 849 and a recipient of the Police Medal for Gallantry, Meena has built a career that many aspire to. Now, he is preparing to enter a completely different career chapter.
From IIT Kanpur to Indian Police Service
Born in Rajasthan’s Sikar district in 1989, Jagmohan Meena completed his schooling before gaining admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur through the highly competitive IIT-JEE examination.Instead of choosing the conventional engineering route after graduation, he decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services exam. The decision paid off when he scored AIR 849 in the 2012 Civil Services exam.Your score reflects a balanced performance at different stages of the exam:• Written test: 724 points• Personality test (interview): 181 points• Final score: 905 pointsAccording to his rank, he was allotted to the Odisha cadre of the Indian Police Service as part of the 2013 batch.
A career marked by service and recognition
During her years in the IPS, Meena served in several important police assignments in Odisha. His work in anti-Maoist operations earned him the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2019, one of the country’s significant honors for police personnel who demonstrate exceptional courage in the line of duty.At the time of his resignation, he was serving as the DCP of Bhubaneswar, a high-profile post that often places officers at the center of public administration and law and order management.His decision came amid public discussions following a recent law and order incident on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, leading to speculation about the timing of his resignation. However, Meena has categorically stated that her decision has nothing to do with departmental or political pressure. According to his own statement, this is a personal decision carefully made after long discussions with his family and close friends.
Looking beyond government service
Although her resignation is yet to complete the formal approval process, Meena has indicated that she intends to explore opportunities in the private sector after leaving the IPS. Reports suggest he may join a corporate firm associated with a close relative in Rajasthan, though he has mainly described the move as part of a long-term career plan.His journey, from cracking the IIT-JEE, succeeding in one of India’s toughest competitive exams, serving as an IPS officer, receiving a gallantry medal and now preparing for a career outside government service, shows that career success doesn’t always follow a single path.For UPSC aspirants and young professionals alike, Jagmohan Meena’s story is a reminder that every career decision has its own aspirations and priorities. While many dream of entering the civil service, others, even after reaching this milestone, may choose to pursue new challenges when they feel the time is right.