IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma the Singham of UP. Learn about his age, wife, career, encounters, and journey from dentist to top cop.
Ajay Pal Sharma is one of India’s most talked-about police officers — a man who walked away from a career in dentistry to become one of Uttar Pradesh’s most feared and respected law enforcement figures. A 2011-batch IPS officer of the UP cadre, Sharma has earned the titles “Singham of Uttar Pradesh” and “Encounter Man” through more than a decade of fearless, on-the-ground policing in some of India’s most crime-prone districts.
His story isn’t just about encounters and crackdowns. It’s about a disciplined young man from Ludhiana who made a radical decision, prepared mostly on his own, cracked one of the country’s toughest exams, and then built a career defined by results. In April 2026, when the Election Commission trusted him with a sensitive observer role in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, his name reached every corner of the country.
Quick Facts About Ajay Pal Sharma
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajay Pal Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 26 October 1985 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 40 Years |
| Birthplace | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Profession | IPS Officer (UP Cadre, 2011 Batch) |
| Education | BDS, Government Medical College, Patiala |
| Wife | Aditi Sharma |
| Siblings | Amit Pal Sharma (IAS Officer) |
| Nickname | Singham of UP / Encounter Man |
| UPSC AIR | 160 |
| Famous For | Anti-crime operations, encounter cases, 2026 Bengal poll observer role |
Early Life and Family Background
Ajay Pal Sharma was born on 26 October 1985 in Ludhiana, Punjab, into an academically inclined family. His father, Amarjit Pal Sharma, was a retired college professor, and his mother Prem Sharma is a homemaker. Growing up in a household that valued education and discipline, Ajay absorbed both traits early. The family’s commitment to public life would prove generational — his younger brother, Amit Pal Sharma, would later clear the UPSC civil services exam and become an IAS officer serving in Uttar Pradesh.
Both brothers transitioned into civil services from medical backgrounds — Ajay from dentistry and Amit from an MBBS degree. That detail alone speaks to a remarkable family ethos: not just academic achievement, but the courage to pivot when a higher calling presents itself.
Education: From Dental College to UPSC
Sharma was a dentist before he joined the civil services. He completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Government Medical College in Patiala, Punjab — and reportedly topped his batch. The academic excellence was evident, but the profession never felt like his destination.
In November 2008, he decided to quit dentistry and pursue a career in civil services. Sharma had joined a coaching institute in Chandigarh to prepare for his civil services exam, though he returned home in Ludhiana after a few weeks, finding the coaching unhelpful, and then studied entirely on his own. That self-reliance turned out to be his greatest strength. He cleared the written exam of the civil services in 2009, but was rejected in the personal interview round. In the same year, Ajay attempted the exam again and passed with an All India Rank of 160. He was allocated the Indian Police Service and assigned to the Uttar Pradesh cadre in the 2011 batch.
IPS Career: Building a Reputation in UP’s Toughest Districts
After being selected in the 2011 IPS batch, Ajay Pal Sharma began his field career with a trainee posting in Saharanpur — a district in western Uttar Pradesh that sits near the Uttarakhand border and has historically dealt with communal sensitivities and cross-border crime. It was a baptism by fire, and Sharma embraced it.
Over the course of his career, Ajay Pal Sharma has served as SP/SSP in five distinct districts, quickly establishing himself as an officer of action and integrity. He became known for conducting surprise checks on subordinate officers, introducing grading systems to improve police station performance, and meeting between 150 and 200 residents daily in his postings — a community-policing approach that complemented his zero-tolerance stance on crime.
Ajay has earned a reputation as the “Encounter Man.” In his years of service, he has carried out more than 30 encounters. These operations, primarily targeting organised criminal gangs, drew both admiration and scrutiny — but consistently defined him as an officer who acts where others hesitate.
In 2018, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally felicitated Ajay Pal Sharma for his outstanding contribution to reducing the influence of criminal gangs in the state. It was one of the most visible public acknowledgments of his service, arriving during a period when the state government was actively prioritising law and order.
The 2026 West Bengal Election Observer Assignment
In April 2026, Ajay Pal Sharma stepped onto a national stage. The Election Commission deployed him as a poll observer in West Bengal’s politically volatile South 24 Parganas district, drawing national attention and highlighting his no-nonsense style in ensuring fair electoral processes.
A video from the region went viral in which Sharma issued a strong public warning to supporters of a Trinamool Congress candidate regarding alleged voter intimidation. He addressed family members directly and stressed the need for free and fair elections, stating that threats would not be tolerated. This action led to political reactions, with some parties criticising the tone while others defended it as necessary for maintaining order.
The episode underscored a consistent thread through Sharma’s career: he does not calibrate his actions to political convenience. Whether policing rural UP or observing elections in a sensitive Bengali district, his approach remains the same — direct, firm, and publicly accountable.
Personal Life
Ajay Pal Sharma is married to Aditi Sharma. The couple wed in 2016. Despite his high-profile postings and frequent media presence, Sharma has largely kept his personal life away from public scrutiny.
His career has not been entirely free of controversy. In 2020, the Uttar Pradesh vigilance department investigated phone calls in which Sharma was heard discussing postings and transfers. A separate individual named Dipti Sharma claimed to have been married to him, alleging abuse — claims that Ajay Pal Sharma denied. The vigilance inquiry and the controversy attracted significant media attention at the time, though Sharma continued in active service through and beyond the episode.
Recognition and Legacy
Sharma’s impact is most visible in the districts where he has served. Crime statistics improved, officer accountability increased, and communities developed a sense of direct access to their police leadership. He is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and results-driven police officers in India’s largest state.
His story also resonates far beyond policing circles. The IPS Ajay Pal Sharma biography is not simply the story of an officer with an impressive record — it is the story of a man who made a radical choice and backed it with years of relentless hard work and courage in the field. For young people considering civil services — especially those already in professional careers — his path from dentist to IPS officer is a genuinely motivating one.
Net Worth
Ajay Pal Sharma’s income comes from his government salary as a senior IPS officer. As an SSP/SP-rank officer with over a decade of service in the UP cadre, his monthly compensation falls within the standard pay scale for IPS officers at his level under the 7th Pay Commission. He has not been publicly associated with private business ventures, and his lifestyle reflects the constraints typical of a service-oriented career. An exact net worth figure has not been officially disclosed.
Wrapping Up
Ajay Pal Sharma’s journey from a dental college in Patiala to the most volatile districts of Uttar Pradesh — and eventually to a nationally watched election observer role in West Bengal — is not the result of luck or political connections. It is the result of a deliberate, disciplined choice made in 2008, backed by years of self-directed study and field-level courage.
He represents a model of public service that is increasingly rare: an officer whose reputation is built on what happens in the field, not what is said in press conferences. Whether you admire his methods or question them, his impact on policing in UP over the past decade is difficult to dismiss.
For anyone who has ever considered leaving behind a secure career to pursue something harder and more meaningful, Ajay Pal Sharma’s story offers a clear and honest answer: it is possible, and it is worth it.
People Also Ask
How did Ajay Pal Sharma become an IPS officer?
He left a career in dentistry in 2008 to prepare for the UPSC civil services exam. After failing the interview round in his first attempt, he cleared the exam on his second try with an All India Rank of 160 and was allocated the IPS in the 2011 batch.
Why is Ajay Pal Sharma called the Singham of UP?
The nickname reflects his fearless, aggressive approach to law enforcement — particularly his track record of more than 30 encounters against organised criminals across several postings in Uttar Pradesh.
Who is Ajay Pal Sharma’s brother?
His younger brother, Amit Pal Sharma, is an IAS officer who also serves in Uttar Pradesh. Amit, who holds an MBBS degree, similarly transitioned into civil services from a medical background.
What happened during Ajay Pal Sharma’s 2026 Bengal assignment?
He served as an Election Commission poll observer in South 24 Parganas during the West Bengal assembly elections. A video of him warning supporters of a political party against voter intimidation went viral, sparking national debate about his conduct.
Is Ajay Pal Sharma married?
Yes, he is married to Aditi Sharma. The couple wed in 2016. A separate controversy in 2020 involved claims by another woman, which Sharma denied.
