Ehsan Fazili/ Srinagar (Monday)

Coming from the culturally rich Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, Sarah Rizvi, was brought up in Mumbai, where she studied and was inspired to opt for civil services, however, through a life full of challenges.

The 2008 batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, she is presently posted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Udhampur-Reasi Police range in Jammu and Kashmir, on an inter-cadre deputation. She took over in April 2025.

Having served at various important positions in Gujarat as well as in J&K and accomplishing challenging tasks was promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Police in January.

IPS Sarah Rizvi

Sarah Rizvi is the only woman Police officer in J&K holding the DIG rank. Despite being from the family of teachers, scholars, doctors and engineers, she had been inspired by her maternal grandfather to be more socially responsible.

For some reason, she was brought up at the home of her maternal grandfather, a Lawyer by profession. A Young Sarah was greatly inspired by her grandfather to take social responsibility as her aim and serve the society.

She completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree and joined a job in a private company to overcome the financial constraints, and to sustain and prepare for the civil services examination.

Her aim was to qualify the civil services. She continued to deal with financial constrains in the meanwhile dealt with it by giving tuitions. She cleared the coveted examination in her third attempt in 2008. She became the first Muslim woman IPS officer of Gujarat cadre.

IPS Sarah Rizvi being felicitated

As she began to settle down while working as a civil services officer, she lost her husband to Covid. This loss posed yet another challenge in her personal life.

She is now a single mother looking after her five-year old daughter and putting in all her efforts in the services and duties assigned. To overcome the distractions in her personal life, she prioritized challenging tasks and, therefore, got inter-cadre deputation to J&K from Gujarat in 2022.     

Prior to her present position, Sarah Rizvi, served as SSP Training, Bureau of Police Research and Development, served as DIG, Administration, Police Headquarters, J&K between 2022 and 2023. She was later posted as DIG IRP (Indian Reserve Police) in Jammu and Kashmir with Additional charge of DIG Training, Police headquarters. Before shifting to J&K Sarah Rizvi served in Gujarat as ASP, Rajkot (Rural), SSP, Jamnagar, DCP, Rajkot City, Assistant Director, Kashmir Desk in Intelligence Bureau, and Head of Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, Gangtok, Sikkim.

IPS Sarah Rizvi

Some of her important assignments included Assembly elections of Gujarat 2012 when she was posted as SSP Jamnagar, Lok Sabha elections 2014 as DCP Rajkot City; handling of Gorkhaland agitation in Sikkim and West Bengal during 2016-2017; handling of Doklam conflict between India and China in 2017; and as Nodal Officer Election Expenditure UT of J&K for Lok Sabha elections, 2024 and Assembly elections of 2024.

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Commendations and appreciations for her distinguished services include Police Special Duty Medal and Ist Bar 2019; Police Antrik Suraksha Sewa Padak, 2019; Commendation from Director, Intelligence Bureau and DG, BPR&D; DGP J&K Commendation for outstanding duties 2023; and Commendation from LG Union Territory of J&K for outstanding duties as Nodal Officer for Lok Sabha and UT J&K Assembly elections 2024.