An official release on Tuesday night said that the four-member SIT, which is to be headed by retired UP Director General of Police Atul, has been asked to submit its report within six months.
Other members of the SIT include retired District Judge Subhash Chandra Agarwal and retired Additional Director (Prosecution) Yogeshwar Krishna Srivastava.
At least 125 people were killed in 1984 riots in Kanpur after the assassination of then prime minister Gandhi.
In August 2017, the apex court had issued a notice to the state government on a petition seeking a SIT probe of the riots.
(agency inputs)