M. L. Kumawat

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox police officer

|name =Mahendra Lal Kumawat

|image =

|caption =

|birth_date =

|birth_place =Rajasthan

|allegiance =

|nickname =

|department =

|service = {{flagicon|India}} Indian Police Service

|cadre = Andhra Pradesh

|batch = 1972

|rank = Former Director General of Border Security Force

|awards = President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (1997)

|relations =

|laterwork =

}}

Mahendra Lal Kumawat (also known as M.L. Kumawat) is a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1972 batch of Andhra Pradesh cadre with a range of experience in the national and sub-national governments with a focus on border security, counter-terrorism and counter-Naxalism.{{cite web|url=http://www.ossim.in/advisory.html|title=Advisory and visiting faculty|publisher=Orian School of Security and Intelligence Management|accessdate=2 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327102600/http://ossim.in/advisory.html|archivedate=27 March 2012}} Notably, he was the former Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), the border patrol agency of the Government of India.{{cite web|url=https://bsf.gov.in/HomeFIG?LangId=dHJ1ZQ==|title=Former Directors General|publisher=Border Security Force|accessdate=26 September 2021}} He also served as the Special Secretary (Internal Security) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7634100.stm|title=Church 'at risk' in Indian state|publisher=BBC|date=24 September 2008|accessdate=2 January 2012}}

As Special Secretary (Internal Security) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, he was also appointed the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for Nagaland.{{cite web|url=http://twocircles.net/2008jun06/fratricidal_killings_put_strain_naga_truce.html|title=Fratricidal killings put strain on Naga truce|publisher=Two Circles|date=6 June 2008|accessdate=26 September 2021}} In October 2012, he was appointed the Vice Chancellor of the newly created Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice in Rajasthan.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-hindus-sunny-sebastian-appointed-as-first-vc-of-newly-formed-university/article3997124.ece|title=The Hindu's Sunny Sebastian appointed as first VC of newly formed university|work=The Hindu|date=14 October 2012|accessdate=14 October 2012}} Previously, he was the chief of Greyhounds (police), the Anti-Naxal Commando Force of Andhra Pradesh from 1992 to 1994. He also proposed the National Police University, later approved by the Union Cabinet. He was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1989 and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service on 26 January 1997.

As a Distinguished Visitor and later Advisor to the Observer Research Foundation, he has authored various studies on security issues, most notably 'Building the resilience of India's internal security apparatus' {{cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/building-the-resilience-of-indias-internal-security-apparatus-45753/|title=Building the resilience of India's internal security apparatus|publisher=Observer Research Foundation|date=26 November 2018|accessdate=26 September 2021}} and 'Fifty years after Naxalbari: It's time for a new narrative'.{{cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/fifty-years-after-naxalbari-its-time-for-a-new-narrative/|title=Fifty years after Naxalbari: It's time for a new narrative|publisher=Observer Research Foundation|date=26 May 2017|accessdate=26 September 2021}}