Honouring Exemplary Service: Chandigarh DGP Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda Conferred with the President’s Medal

The Voice of Chandigarh 

The Director General of Police, UT Chandigarh, Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda (IPS), has been conferred with the prestigious President’s Medal for Distinguished and Meritorious Service. This decoration ranks among the highest honours bestowed in the domain of policing in India. The award was announced on the eve of Independence Day 2025 and was formally presented on Monday at an investiture ceremony in New Delhi by the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah.

A senior officer of the 1997 batch of the AGMUT cadre, Dr. Hooda assumed charge as the DGP of Chandigarh on 15 July 2025. He shares a longstanding professional association with the city. He holds a postgraduate degree and a PhD in Sociology from Panjab University. Earlier in his career, during the late 1990s, he served in Chandigarh as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Hooda successfully dismantled an insurgency-backed extortion network in Arunachal Pradesh, demonstrating decisive leadership and operational acumen. While serving as Additional DCP in Delhi, he spearheaded the ‘Parivartan’ initiative, a reform-driven programme aimed at strengthening the safety and security framework for women and children.

He has also received international recognition, including the Weber-CV Award, and is a Chevening Scholar. With his return to Chandigarh as DGP, Dr. Hooda continues to bring experience, vision, and integrity to the forefront of law enforcement leadership.