PATNA, Sept. 27 -- Bihar has started the process to select the new state DGP after the voluntary retirement application of DGP Vinay Kumar was accepted by the government late on Saturday, said a senior official aware of the matter on Saturday. Vinay Kumar is tipped to be the next state chief information commissioner. Among the names in circulation as the frontrunners in the DGP race are Preeta Verma, Bhrigu Srinivasan, Jitendra Singh Gangwar, Jitendra Kumar and Kundan Krishnan. According to officials, a list of police officers with at least 30 years of service has been sent to the respective authority. The government has forwarded the names of senior officers to the UPSC, which will provide a panel of three candidates based on merit and seniority; one of these individuals will then be elevated to the post. This panel includes officers who have been posted on central deputation and whose tenure still has at least six months remaining after December. Officials who are working on central deputation will be asked about their preferences regarding the DGP position. After this, the list of the final three names will be returned to the state government. The state government will mark its seal on one of these names. It is likely that the entire process will be completed by the first week of October. There are currently ten IPS officers in the Bihar cadre holding the DG rank, including Preeta Verma, B. Srinivasan, Jitendra Singh Gangwar, Sunil Kumar Jha, Arvind Kumar, Jitendra Kumar, Kundan Krishna, Dr. Paresh Saxena, and Nirmal Kumar Azad. Three of these officers are out of the race due to upcoming retirements: Arvind Kumar (October 31, 2026), Dr. Paresh Saxena (December 31, 2026), and Sunil Kumar Jha (January 31, 2027), officials said. Vinay Kumar was due to retire on September 25, 2025, but was appointed DGP on December 13, 2024, officials said. The position had become vacant following the departure of the former DGP, Rajvinder Singh Bhatti, for central deputation as DG of the CISF, with Alok Raj subsequently named as in-charge DGP. In accordance with Supreme Court mandates, the UPSC will provide a panel of three names, from which the new DGP must be appointed, they added. A 1991-batch IPS officer, Preeta Verma ranks high on the seniority list. As a tribal woman officer serving in the Bihar Police, a force that currently has approximately 35% female representation, she is widely regarded for her professional efficiency and an impeccable, unblemished track record, officials aware of the matter said. Currently, she posted as director general-cum-commandant general, fire and home guard service. "If she gets the opportunity, she will be the first female DGP of Bihar and her tenure till June 30, 2028. She has served as IG/ADG weaker section, DG (Training) and DG Bihar police building construction corporation. In her central deputation she hold the posts of CEO (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) and NCRB," officials said. 1994 batch IPS Kundan Krishnan, regarded for his strict, fast-paced approach and extensive anti-criminal expertise gained during his tenure with the Intelligence Bureau, officials noted, adding that having been prematurely recalled from central deputation by the state government to focus on crime control, Krishnan has previously served as ADG (HQs), Patna SSP, and Zonal IG (Patna). He currently holds responsibility of special branch and STF, with a tenure extending till March 31, 2029. Also in the running is 1992-batch officer Bhrigu Srinivasan, who currently sits second on the seniority list. Presently posted as DG of NSG, he has consented to return to his parental cadre, with his tenure scheduled to last until August 31, 2027....