Former NIA DG Dinkar Gupta joins IIT Ropar as Professor of Practice

Former NIA Director General and Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta joined IIT Ropar on Tuesday as Professor of Practice, bringing with him nearly four decades of frontline experience in national security, counterterrorism, policing, and public policy. The distinguished 1987-batch IPS officer, decorated multiple times by the President of India for gallantry and service, is expected to add significant depth to the institute’s engagement with real-world challenges at the intersection of technology, governance, and security.

Gupta will mentor students and researchers on subjects ranging from internal security and cybersecurity to AI-driven law enforcement, intelligence fusion, and strategic planning. IIT Ropar said his presence will help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical field applications, giving students a rare opportunity to learn from a practitioner who has led some of India’s most sensitive national security operations. He is also expected to collaborate with faculty on research projects involving emerging technologies and their role in safeguarding national interests.

Gupta’s 37-year career in the IPS included leadership roles as DG NIA, DGP Punjab, DG Intelligence Punjab, Additional DGP (Law and Order, Security), and earlier central deputation with the Intelligence Bureau. Since retiring from the NIA in March 2024, he has continued to contribute to public policy and governance through senior advisory roles in the public and private sectors, including with Tata Consultancy Services, and as an Independent Director on several corporate boards.

He has also maintained a longstanding engagement with global academia and security institutions, having served as Visiting Adjunct Professor at George Washington University and American University in Washington DC, besides earlier associations with Chevening Gurukul Programme and London School of Economics. His exposure to international policing and legal systems includes training with Scotland Yard, London Metropolitan Police, and New York Police Department, and representing India at INTERPOL General Assembly in Vienna.