Full Breakdown
IPS Graduates Parade Highlights Shift in India’s Internal Security Priorities
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 17, 2026, 151 officer trainees—including 37 women—participated in the Dikshant Parade of the 78th regular-recruit batch at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan addressed the ceremony, describing India’s internal security landscape as “changed irrevocably” and outlining the challenges awaiting the new Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.
Background & Context
The trainees began their academy stint on December 8, 2025 after a 15-week foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. Their 45-week curriculum blended conventional policing with emerging threats such as cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, drug trafficking, drone misuse, and AI-driven investigations. Practical modules included riot-control simulations, mock courts, weapons handling, unarmed combat, and fieldcraft.
After the parade, the batch will spend four weeks in Delhi attached to central police bodies, then complete a 29-week district-level practical phase before reconvening at SVPNPA on June 21, 2027 for a nine-week second phase that features specialised attachments with the National Forensic Sciences University and a leadership module at IIM Ahmedabad.
Timeline
- December 8, 2025 – Trainees join SVPNPA.
- October 17, 2026 – Dikshant Parade and Govind Mohan’s address.
- October 9–10, 2026 – Cellular internet services suspended for one day in a 4-km radius of Raisina Hill during a Delhi protest.
- October 10, 2026 – Mohan apologises to the Supreme Court for the suspension.
- October 11, 2026 – Mohan requests modification of the Court’s order on internet suspensions.
- June 21, 2027 – Scheduled return to academy for second-phase training.
Data & Statistics
- 151 officer trainees in the 78th batch.
- 37 women trainees.
- 135 IPS probationers; 16 foreign officers from Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.
- Cadre allocations include two officers to Telangana, eight to Andhra Pradesh, and the remainder to states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Official Statements & Responses
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized a “zero-tolerance” stance toward terrorism and highlighted the “Smart Border Initiative,” which relies on modern techniques, integrated surveillance, digital systems and inter-agency coordination.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The young officers have an important role to play in securing borders through the Centre's Smart Border Initiative, which involves modern techniques, integrated surveillance, digital systems and better coordination among different security agencies,” — Amit Shah
- “I state and submit that the suspension of internet services for a limited period and within a defined geographical area, subject to the applicable statutory safeguards, is a recognised measure that may be considered for maintaining public order in appropriate circumstances,” — Govind Mohan
Legal Controversy
In an affidavit, Govind Mohan apologized to the Supreme Court for the temporary suspension of cellular internet services during a protest on October 10, 2026. He argued that the measure, applied within a 4-km radius of Raisina Hill from October 9 pm to October 10 pm, was “proportionate” and sought a modification of the Court’s October 11, 2026 order to permit such limited suspensions when legally justified.
What’s Next
After the Delhi attachments, the batch will undertake district-level training in their allotted cadres before reconvening for the second-phase curriculum in mid-2027. The upcoming modules will focus on forensic science, advanced leadership, and further exposure to technology-driven policing.