Process of Selection in Indian Police Service (IPS)
Process of Selection in Indian Police Service (IPS)
The Indian Police Service commonly known as the IPS is all India Service. During the British era, it was known as the 'Imperial Police.'
The Complete Selection Process: -
Officers for the Indian Police Service are selected annually through the Civil
Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Candidates who are finally selected in this examination are allocated a service
based on their aggregate marks and the 'Service Preference List' submitted by
them. Since this service entails numerous challenges and responsibilities, the
UPSC selects candidates who are best suited for it. Owing to the social
prestige associated with this service, it holds immense appeal among millions
of young people across the country. Every year, hundreds of thousands of young
Indians appear for the Civil Services Examination.
Educational Qualification: -
To appear for the Civil Services Examination, it is mandatory for a candidate
to hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution.
Physical Standards: -
To be selected for the IPS, male candidates must have a minimum height of 165
centimeters, while female candidates must be at least 150 centimeters tall. For
male candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) category, a minimum
height of 160 centimeters is required, and for female candidates in this
category, the minimum height must be 145 centimeters. The chest measurement for
male and female candidates must be at least 84 centimeters and 79 centimeters,
respectively. Visual acuity for healthy eyes should be 6/6 or 6/9, while for
eyes with visual impairments; it should be 6/12 or 6/9. Training — the training
for the Indian Police Service comprises the following stages:
1.
Basic Training — 4 months (at the National Academy, Mussoorie)
2.
Institutional Professional Training (Phase I) — 12 months (Police Academy,
Hyderabad)
3.
Practical Training — 8 months (in a district within the allotted state)
4.
Institutional/Professional Training (Phase II) — 3 months (at the Police
Academy, Hyderabad)
After undergoing 16
weeks of Basic Training at the ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of
Administration, Mussoorie (Uttarakhand),’ candidates selected for the Indian
Police Service (IPS) undergo further training at the ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
National Police Academy, Hyderabad,’ which spans one year. Here, during the
initial Institutional Training (Phase I)—lasting four weeks—these trainee
officers are provided with in-depth knowledge regarding the Indian Penal Code,
Criminology, the Indian Evidence Act, and the Indian Constitutional framework.
During this period, special emphasis is placed on physical exercises, drill,
and weapons handling. To provide training on various types of weaponry, these
officers are sent for a 28-day stint to the Border Security Force’s ‘Central
School for Weapons and Tactics,’ located in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), where they
are taught how to dismantle, clean, and reassemble various small and heavy
firearms.
Additionally, under the
module on ‘Tactics’ (Strategic Maneuvers), they are trained in map reading,
conducting raids, night navigation, search operations, laying ambushes, and
similar skills. Concurrently, these trainee officers receive essential training
in horse riding, crowd control (specifically regarding unruly crowds),
firefighting, maintaining friendly relations with the public, swimming,
photography, mountaineering, driving, counterterrorism, VIP security, wireless
communication systems, and handling situations related to communal riots.
Institutional and Professional
Training: - Following the second phase of Institutional
Training, the trainee officers are deputed for a period of one year to serve
alongside officers holding the ranks of Superintendent of Police, Deputy
Superintendent of Police, Circle Inspector, and Station House Officer. Here,
trainee officers acquire practical knowledge regarding the investigation of
various types of criminal cases, as well as office procedures and the
operational mechanisms of police stations. Following this practical training,
the second phase—institutional training—commences back at the academy. Upon the
completion of one year of training, the probationer officers are required to
pass an examination conducted by the UPSC; subsequently, they are appointed to
the post of ‘Assistant Superintendent of Police’ in the state (cadre) to which
they were allocated for their practical training. Thus, the initial formal
training concludes, and each officer is dispatched to their designated cadre.
However, this constitutes only the *initial* training; subsequently, under the
‘Mid-Career Training Program,’ officers undergo further training at various
intervals throughout their service tenure.
Appointment: - Upon the completion of training, the trainee officer—having been assigned a
specific state cadre—is required to undergo one year of on-the-job training at
the office of the Superintendent of Police in one of the districts within that
assigned state. Following this, they are required to serve as an Assistant
Superintendent of Police for a period of two years. While serving as an
Assistant Superintendent of Police, the officer's responsibilities are
equivalent to those of a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Promotion: - Through a process of progressive promotions, an IPS officer can rise from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to that of Director General of Police. The Director General of Police serves as the head of the state police force. Additionally, IPS officers are often appointed on deputation to central government intelligence agencies, such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Maintaining law and order in major metropolitan areas—such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata—is a distinct responsibility of the police force. In these cities, police officers are designated as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl. DCP), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Joint Commissioner of Police, and Commissioner of Police (CP). The Commissioner of Police (CP) acts as the chief of the police force within these cities. The pinnacle of an IPS officer's career is typically reached through appointments as the head of central police organizations—such as the CBI, IB, etc.—or as the Inspector General of Police in various states.
In-Service Training: - To enhance their capacity to hold higher-ranking positions while in active
service—and to enable them to adapt effectively to evolving
circumstances—officers of the Indian Police Service undergo training at
institutions such as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, the
Indian Institute of Public Administration, and various other specialized
centers. This in-service training curriculum primarily covers subjects such as
administrative procedures, public relations, riot control, human rights,
handling violent agitations, natural disasters, accident management, and media
relations.
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