The government has appointed senior IPS officer Arvind Ranjan as the head of paramilitary BSF till a regular incumbent is appointed to the post.

The post of Director General (DG) BSF fell vacant after current chief UK Bansal retired on Friday. Ranjan, an officer of Kerala cadre, currently serving as Special DG in the force, is a 1977-batch Kerala cadre officer.

"The Competent Authority has approved that Arvind Ranjan, IPS (Kerala-1977), presently Special DG, Border Security Force will look after the duties of director general BSF with immediate effect and till an incumbent to the post is appointed on regular basis or until further orders," a home ministry statement said.