But to reach at this coveted position one has to be really diligent and hardworking. To reach to that level one has to really toil hard for nearly 2 years and pass through a rigorous test involving written tests and interview spreading through out a year which requires self-discipline, patience, punctuality, commitment self-confidence and a burning desire to be at the top ladder of an important organization of the country. The is a kind of career which is ever demanding. you can not get relaxed after getting the post infect you have to work harder after getting the job then before getting it.
To be an (IPS) officer is not a mean thing. If you enjoy power then you have also to accept the responsibility attached with the bound less power. To handle things effectively a lot of hard work, stamina, alertness of mind, adaptability to follow difficult time schedules, good team spirit is required as this is not a time bound job. This is a career in which you are not only supposed to work yourself only but you have to make your team to work hard for the society you have vowed to serve while joining this career.
Eligibility to be an IPS Officer
1. Educational Qualification
To be eligible for becoming an IPS officer the candidate must possess a degree from an Indian University or an equivalent qualification. Those in the final year of a degree course can also appear in the Preliminary Examination taken every year by UPSC.
2. Age
To be eligible for becoming an IPS officer the candidate must possess a degree from an Indian University or an equivalent qualification. Those in the final year of a degree course can also appear in the Preliminary Examination taken every year by UPSC.
2. Age
- The candidate must have attained the age of 21 years on 1st August of the year of examination and must not have attained 30 years of age on that date.
- The upper age limit will be relaxed by 3 years for OBC candidates and 5 years for SC/ST candidates.
- The upper age limit is also relaxed in favor of Defense Services Personnel.
Since these services involves decision making towards the internal security of the country. So taking into account the sensitivity of the job the aspirants have to be eligible under certain specific conditions as given ahead.
1. For IPS, the candidate must be a citizen of India.
2. For other services, a candidate must be either:
- a citizen of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- a subject of Bhutan, or
- a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Process to become an IPS officer
To become an IPS officer one has to follow the below given steps:-Step 1
As a first step the aspirant has to procure the “Application Form” along with “Information Brochure” from any of the “Head Post Offices or Post Offices” spread throughout the country and sent the filled Application form to:
The Secretary
Union Public Service Commission
Dholpur House
New Delhi - 110011.
Note:- The notification for the examination with relevant details regarding rules and syllabus is published in the month of December in the 'Employment News' / 'Rozgar Samachar' , 'Gazette of India', and in some leading Newspapers of the country.
Step 2
In the month of May or June the aspirants have to take the “Preliminary examinations”. Consisting of two papers. The papers are on:
| 1 | General Studies | 150 marks |
| 2 | Some optional subject | 300 marks |
The optional subject for the second paper may be chosen from the following given subjects
| 1 | Agriculture |
| 2 | Animal Husbandry and veterinary science |
| 3 | Botany |
| 4 | Chemistry |
| 5 | Civil Engineering |
| 6 | Commerce |
| 7 | Economics |
| 8 | Electrical Engineering |
| 9 | Geography |
| 10 | Geology |
| 11 | Indian History |
| 12 | Law |
| 13 | Mathematics |
| 14 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 15 | Philosophy |
| 16 | Physics |
| 17 | Political Science |
| 18 | Psychology |
| 19 | Public Administration |
| 20 | Sociology |
| 21 | Statistics |
| 22 | Zoology |
Note:- This exam is just a qualifying exam for the Final exam and scores obtained in this exam are not added to make the final result.
Step 3
Those candidates who are declared qualified in the “Preliminary examination” are supposed to take the final exam (normally held in the month of October) having following papers
- 1 Essay type Indian Language Qualifying Paper (300 marks)
- 1 English Qualifying Paper (300 marks)
- 1 General Essay type paper (200 marks)
- 2 General Studies papers (300 marks each)
- 4 Optional subjects papers (300 marks each)
Step 4
Once you are through the final stage is the interview. The aspirants are grilled in the interview to test their personality and mental ability. Then the final list of the successful candidates is prepared and the candidates who have secured very good rank out of 400-450(approx.) top ranks are admitted to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy as IPS probationers.Where they undergo rigrous training of nearly one year in which all aspects of policing and administration are taken care of. After completion of their training they are posted as per requirements of the Central and State Governments police and investigative organisation.
Being All India Services the new IPS incumbant's services are alloted to various state cadre under Cadre System. The Cadre system is alloted on a basis of lottery and the top rank holder of each state may get a chance to get their home state if he had applied for one.
IPS officer Job Description
The IPS officer mainly take care of the law and order, crime prevention and detection, tgraffic control and accident prvention and management etc. Beside these routine duties the other duties of an IPS officer may include VIP security, border policing, railway policing, tackling corruption in public life, counter terrorisum, checking smugling, drug trafficking and economic/cyber crimes and help in disaster management. IPS officer can also be leading officers in intelligence agancies like RAW, IB and CBI etc or paramilitary forces like BSF and ITBP etc.
IPS officers Job ProspectsAn IPS being an All Indian Services officer works for both the Central and State Governments. He serves the State Government in various capacities ranging from an ASP at the beginning of his career to the DGP (The apex of the police force in any state). He can also serve the Central Government in various civil defense and paramilitary organizations like the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) etc. The IPS mainly takes care of law and order a responsibility shared with the IAS ; crime prevention and detection ; and traffic control and accident prevention and management.
IPS officer Salary
Salary of IPS officers in quite good esprcially after implementation of fifth pay commission. Entry Level IPS officers are paid around Rs. 40,000 a month, Middle Level IPS officers get around Rs. 60,000 a month whereas Senior Level IPS officer get around Rs. 80,000 a month. Besides their pay IPS officers are also entitled to special perks depending on where one is posted.This is however a variable amount specific to some locations only.The Government of India has fixed salary grades for IPS officers. Although keep on changing with new pay commission. Present pay scale of IPS are as follows:-
| Rank | Equivalent positions or designations in the State Governments | Pay Scale |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police | Assistant Commissioner of Police | 15600-39100 Rupees plus grade pay of 5400 rupees |
| Additional Superintendent of Police | Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police | 15600-39100 rupees plus grade pay of 6600 rupees |
| Superintendent of Police, | Deputy Commissioner of Police | 15600-39100 rupees plus grade pay of 7600 rupees |
| Senior Superintendent of Police | Deputy Commissioner of Police | 15600-39100 rupees plus grade pay of 8700 rupees |
| Deputy Inspector General of Police | Additional Commissioner of Police | 37400-67000 rupees plus grade pay of 8900 rupees |
| Inspector General of Police | Joint Commissioner of Police | 37400-67000 rupees plus grade pay of 10,000 rupees |
| Additional Director General of Police | Special Commissioner of Police | 37400-67000 rupees plus grade pay of 12000 rupees |
| Director General of Police | Commissioner of Police (State) | 80000 rupees (fixed) plus grade pay-Nil |
In addition to the salary IPS officers receive various types of allowances such as Dearness Allowance, City compensatory Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance, Medical and subsidized housing.
Career options
Hierarchy( In descending order from top to bottom) in the IPS line up.
- Director General of Police (Top Most Post)
- Inspectors General of Police
- Deputy Inspector General of Police
- Additional Commissioner of Police (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane)
- Superintendent of Police in selection grade with 13+ years of service
- Additional Superintendant of Police
- Assistant Superintendent in charge of sub-division
- IPS Probationer
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