For lakhs 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 one milestone in a journey that has been defined by taking unconventional decisions. The 2013-batch Odisha cadre IPS officer, currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Bhubaneswar, has decided to resign from the service at the age of 37, saying the move is driven by personal reasons and long-term career planning.His announcement has attracted widespread attention, not only because of the timing but also because of the path he has taken. An IIT Kanpur graduate, a UPSC achiever 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 step into a completely different professional chapter.
From IIT Kanpur to the Indian Police Service
Born in Rajasthan’s Sikar district in 1989, Jagmohan Meena completed his schooling before earning 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 Examination. The decision paid off when he secured AIR 849 in the 2012 Civil Services Examination.His score reflected a balanced performance across different stages of the examination:• Written Examination: 724 marks• Personality Test (Interview): 181 marks• Final Score: 905 marksBased on his rank, he was allocated to the Odisha cadre of the Indian Police Service as part of the 2013 batch.
A career marked by service and recognition
During his years in the IPS, Meena served in several important policing assignments in Odisha. His work in anti-Maoist operations earned him the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2019, one of the country’s significant honours for police personnel demonstrating exceptional courage in the line of duty.At the time of his resignation, he was serving as Bhubaneswar DCP, a high-profile posting that often places officers at the centre 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 over the timing of his resignation. However, Meena has categorically stated that his decision has no connection with departmental or political pressure. According to his own statement, it is a carefully considered personal decision taken after extensive discussions with his family and close friends.
Looking beyond government service
While his resignation is yet to complete the formal approval process, Meena has indicated that he intends to explore opportunities in the private sector after leaving the IPS. Reports suggest he may join a corporate venture associated with a close relative in Rajasthan, although he has primarily described the move as part of a long-term career plan.His journey—from clearing IIT-JEE, succeeding in one of India’s toughest competitive examinations, serving as an IPS officer, receiving a Gallantry Medal and now preparing for a career outside government service—shows that professional success does not always follow a single path.For UPSC aspirants and young professionals alike, Jagmohan Meena’s story is a reminder that every career decision carries its own aspirations and priorities. While many dream of entering the civil services, others, even after reaching that milestone, may choose to pursue new challenges when they believe the time is right.
