The Nepal government has officially appointed Narayan Dutta Poudel as the new Inspector General (IG) of the Armed Police Force (APF). The decision was finalized during a cabinet meeting held on Monday.
Government Spokesperson and Minister for Education, Sasmita Pokharel, confirmed the appointment of the current Additional Inspector General (AIG). "The Cabinet has decided to promote AIG Narayan Datta Paudel to the post of Inspector General," Pokharel said following the meeting.
Paudel, who currently heads the Human Resources Department at the APF Headquarters in Halchowk, is set to take command on May 1. He will succeed the outgoing IG Raju Aryal, whose four-year tenure will expire on that date.
Who is Narayan Dutta?
Paudel’s career began on March 31, 1998, as an Inspector in the Nepal Police, where he earned a grade promotion for his exceptional leadership of a striking team in Rolpa. He later transferred to the Armed Police Force on April 17, 2001, entering as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Throughout his service, Poudel has undertaken several critical strategic and operational roles:
- Served as the commander of the Nilbarahi Battalion and the Bangalamukhi Special Task Force.
- Worked within the Secretariat of the National Security Council and served as a member of the arms monitoring team under UNMIN during the peace process.
- Led various brigades, including the Barah Brigade in the East and the Baidyanath Brigade in the Far West.
As he rose to the rank of AIG, Paudel gained extensive experience heading the Human Resources, Border, and Operations Departments. His appointment is seen as a move to bring seasoned, strategic leadership to the force as it navigates evolving security and border management challenges.
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