Jagadale Nilambari Vijay DIG, A High-Ranking police officer Exemplifies Resilience, Dedication, and a Commitment to Public Service

Jagadale Nilambari Vijay is an IPS officer, currently DIG of Ludhiana Range, Punjab Police, appointed in February 2025.
She was the first woman SSP of Chandigarh in 2017, with a career marked by significant roles and awards.
Born in 1981 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, she has a degree in Electronics Engineering from VNIT Nagpur.
Her journey includes early education in Nagpur, corporate experience, and a family life with her husband, an army officer, and daughter.

Early Life and Education

Jagadale Nilambari Vijay, born in 1981 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, grew up in a middle-class family. Her early education was rooted in Nagpur, starting at Paranjape Primary School for pre-primary classes, followed by Hadas High School for classes 5-6, and later Achalpur City High School in Amravati for classes 7-8. She completed her secondary education at CP & Berar School in Ravi Nagar, Nagpur, and higher secondary at Shivaji Science College in Congress Nagar, Nagpur. She earned a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur, formerly REC Nagpur.

Career Highlights

Before joining the civil services, Nilambari worked for two years in a multinational company but left to pursue her dream of public service. Selected for the Indian Police Service in the 2008 batch of the Punjab cadre, her career includes roles like ASP in Ropar, ACP in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, DSP in Khanna, and SSP in Fazilka and Pathankot. She made history as Chandigarh’s first woman SSP in 2017, focusing on crimes against vulnerable groups. Promoted to DIG in April 2022, she was recently appointed DIG of Ludhiana Range in February 2025, replacing Dhanpreet Kaur.

Personal Life and Philosophy

Nilambari is married to Dr Chaitanya Mahajan, a Lt Colonel in the Indian Army’s Medical Wing, currently pursuing MD in Delhi. They have a daughter, Nitya, born in 2015. Her mother passed away in 2004, and her father, Vijay, retired in 2010 as a bank assistant manager. She enjoys reading and listening to ghazals, viewing policing as a department for immediate justice, requiring total dedication, which she likens to an ‘Agnipariksha’.

Detailed Biography of Jagadale Nilambari Vijay

Jagadale Nilambari Vijay stands as a prominent figure in Indian law enforcement, currently serving as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Ludhiana Range in Punjab Police, a position she assumed in February 2025. Her career is marked by pioneering achievements, including her historic role as the first woman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Chandigarh in 2017. Born on an unspecified date in 1981 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Nilambari’s journey from a middle-class family to a high-ranking police officer exemplifies resilience, dedication, and a commitment to public service.

Early Life and Educational Background

Nilambari was born at Dr Mangala Ketkar’s Maternity Home in Sitabuldi, Nagpur, and grew up in a supportive family environment. Her early education began at Paranjape Primary School in Dharampeth, Nagpur, for classes 1-4, followed by Hadas High School in Nagpur for classes 5-6. For classes 7-8, she attended Achalpur City High School in Amravati, reflecting her family’s mobility. She returned to Nagpur for her secondary education at CP & Berar School in Ravi Nagar and completed her higher secondary education at Shivaji Science College in Congress Nagar, Nagpur. Pursuing higher education, she earned a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur, formerly known as Regional Engineering College (REC) Nagpur, equipping her with a strong technical foundation.

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Pre-Civil Services Career

Before embarking on her civil services journey, Nilambari worked for two years in a multinational company, gaining valuable corporate experience. However, her passion for serving the community and ensuring justice led her to leave this lucrative position and prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations. Her determination and hard work culminated in her selection for the Indian Police Service in the 2008 batch of the Punjab cadre, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in law enforcement.

Professional Trajectory and Achievements

Nilambari’s career in the police force is characterized by a series of significant postings and notable achievements. She started as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Ropar, Punjab, and progressed through various roles, including Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Khanna, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) in Ludhiana, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Fazilka, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Ludhiana, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) for state and cyber crime, and Deputy Director at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur. Her tenure as SSP in Pathankot during the 2017 Punjab assembly polls and SSP in Ropar further highlighted her leadership capabilities.

In August 2017, Nilambari made history by becoming the first woman SSP of Chandigarh, a role she held with distinction. During her tenure, she prioritized addressing crimes against vulnerable groups such as women, children, and senior citizens with a focus on empathy and community engagement. Her strategies included mapping crime-prone areas and ensuring accountability among police officers, particularly in reducing street crimes like snatching, which saw a decline from 238 incidents in 2017 to 53 by early 2020. Her leadership style, described as that of a “tough taskmaster,” earned her respect and recognition among peers.

Nilambari’s contributions were acknowledged with three commendation discs from the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) for her exemplary work during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, her innovative initiatives in police training at the Punjab Police Academy, and her effective management during the 2017 Punjab assembly polls. In April 2022, she was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), reflecting her continued excellence. Most recently, as of February 2025, she was appointed DIG of the Ludhiana Range, replacing Dhanpreet Kaur, further solidifying her impact on Punjab’s law enforcement landscape.

Personal Life and Family

On a personal level, Nilambari is married to Dr Chaitanya Mahajan, a Lt Colonel in the Medical Wing of the Indian Army, who is currently pursuing his MD in Delhi. They have a daughter, Nitya, born in 2015, who has been a source of joy and motivation. Nilambari’s family background includes the loss of her mother in 2004 and her father, Vijay, retiring in 2010 as an Assistant Manager of a bank. Her hobbies include reading and listening to music, with a particular fondness for ghazals, providing a balance to her demanding professional life.

Philosophy and Community Engagement

Nilambari views the police service as a critical department where immediate justice can be provided, emphasizing its unique role in society. She has described the profession as an “Agnipariksha” (trial by fire), requiring total dedication and resilience. Her commitment to community policing is evident in her efforts to increase public participation, believing that effective law enforcement requires collaboration with the community. She is also a strong advocate for gender equality in the profession, stating that “gender has nothing to do with our profession. The challenges are the same for every officer,” making her a role model for aspiring civil servants, especially women.

Detailed Educational Timeline

To provide a comprehensive view of her educational journey, the following table outlines her schooling and higher education:

*Level*	*Institution*	*Location*	Years
Pre-Primary (1-4)	Paranjape Primary School	Dharampeth, Nagpur	1986-1990
Classes 5-6	Hadas High School	Nagpur	1991-1992
Classes 7-8	Achalpur City High School	Amravati	1993-1994
Classes 9-10	CP & Berar School	Ravi Nagar, Nagpur	1995-1996
Classes 11-12	Shivaji Science College	Congress Nagar, Nagpur	1997-1998
Engineering Degree	VNIT Nagpur (formerly REC Nagpur)	Nagpur	1999-2003

Career Progression Table

Her professional journey can be summarized as follows, highlighting key positions and milestones:

*Year*	*Position*	*Location*	*Notes*
2008	Selected for IPS, Punjab Cadre	–	Joined after UPSC selection
Early 2000s	ASP	Ropar, Punjab	Initial posting
Various	ACP, DSP, ADCP, DCP	Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Khanna, etc.	Multiple roles in Punjab
2017	SSP	Pathankot, Ropar	Key roles during elections
2017-2020	SSP	Chandigarh	First woman SSP, focused on vulnerable groups
April 2022	Promoted to DIG	Punjab	Recognized for excellence
Feb 2025	DIG Ludhiana Range	Ludhiana, Punjab	Current role, replaced Dhanpreet Kaur

This detailed biography encapsulates Jagadale Nilambari Vijay’s life, career, and personal insights, providing a holistic view of her contributions to Indian law enforcement and her role as an inspirational figure.