2003-batch IPS officer Vikas Vaibhav (File photo)
Patna: Vikas Vaibhav, a 2003-batch Indian Police Service officer from Bihar cadre, has been appointed inspector general of the Magadh range, a posting that brings a two-decade career of counter-terror investigations, anti-Naxal operations, and ground-level crime control to one of the state’s historically troubled zones.
Let's Know about Vikas Vaibhav?
Born on November 21, 1979, in Bihat village of Begusarai district, Vaibhav graduated with a B Tech in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2001 before choosing a career in uniform.
He started as an assistant superintendent of police in Danapur and, over the years, built a reputation that is difficult to detach from high-stakes situations.
His tenure as superintendent of police in Bagaha drew the most attention early in his career. The West Champaran district was then notorious for kidnappings and organized dacoit gangs, locals called it “Mini Chambal.”
After a gap of more than six years, I am back to #FieldPolicing. As I look forward to the new responsibility assigned to me as IG, Magadh Range, headquartered at Gaya Ji, my foremost priority, as always, will be to ensure the firm and impartial upholding of the Rule of Law by the…
— Vikas Vaibhav, IPS (@vikasvaibhavips) May 10, 2026
Under Vaibhav’s watch, kidnapping incidents dropped sharply, and several major criminal gangs surrendered to the police.
The district later named a prominent intersection and a road after him: Vikas Vaibhav Chowk and Vikas Vaibhav Path.
In Rohtas, as SP, he led Operation Vidhwans, a sustained anti-Naxal push in a region where Maoists had long described parts of the Rohtasgarh Fort area as a “Liberated Zone.”
On Republic Day, after what officials said was a gap of several decades, the national flag was hoisted at the fort. Community policing programs, including the Son Mahotsav initiative, were used to rebuild trust among tribal and marginalized communities. Peaceful polling was secured in areas that had previously been considered inaccessible during election season.
His stint in NIA
Vaibhav’s deputation with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) elevated his profile nationally. He led investigations into Indian Mujahideen cases and played a central role in the arrest and interrogation of Yasin Bhatkal, one of the organization’s top operatives.
His team also investigated the 2013 Patna Gandhi Maidan serial blast case and the Mahabodhi Temple blast case, both of which resulted in court convictions.
As senior superintendent of police in Patna, a posting he held twice, he made decisions that drew both scrutiny and praise. He initiated legal proceedings against the former chief minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and his two sons; ordered the arrest of the influential MLA from Mokama Anant Kumar Singh; and registered a case against the then Bihar Congress president, Ashok Choudhary, for alleged interference in a police investigation.
He also played a key role in ensuring free and fair polling during the 2015 Bihar assembly elections.
Later, as deputy inspector general of the Bhagalpur range, he introduced regular “Janata Darbars” and public dialogue sessions at which citizens could bring grievances directly to senior police officials. His administration of both Bhagalpur and Munger ranges came to be cited as a working model of accessible, interactive policing.
He subsequently served as DIG of the anti-terrorism squad and as special secretary in the home department of the Bihar government, where he was also involved in the state’s Covid-19 management efforts.
Awards and accolades
Among the honours he has received is the Satyendra Dubey Memorial Award, conferred by IIT Kanpur in 2019, along with the internal security medal and commendations from the director general of the NIA.
All about his social campaign – Let’s Inspire Bihar
Outside policing, Vaibhav launched a social campaign called “Let’s Inspire Bihar” in March 2021, focused on education, equality, and entrepreneurship. The movement has since grown to around 3,60 lakh members, with more than 1,000 chapters active across Bihar, other Indian cities, and abroad.
Under its Gargi Chapter, 33 free education centres operate across 18 districts of the state, providing schooling to children from economically weaker backgrounds.
He also has a substantial social media presence, with roughly 4.40 lakh followers on Facebook, around 2.06 lakh on X (formerly Twitter), and nearly 1.32 lakh on Instagram, where he writes primarily on Indian history, culture, and social issues.
About Magadh range
The Magadh range, which covers districts including Gaya, Aurangabad, Arwal, Jehanabad, and Nawada, has long been associated with Naxal activity and caste-based crime. Vaibhav’s appointment signals an intent to apply his experience in precisely those areas.
