Official seal of the Indian Police Service |
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| Service overview | |||||||||||
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| Abbreviation | I.P.S. | ||||||||||
| Formed | 1948[1] | ||||||||||
| Country | India | ||||||||||
| Training ground | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad | ||||||||||
| Controlling authority | Ministry of Home Affairs | ||||||||||
| Legal personality | Government service | ||||||||||
| General nature | Federal law enforcement | ||||||||||
| Preceding service | Imperial Police Service (1893–1948)[1] | ||||||||||
| Cadre size | 3899 (2009) posts[2] | ||||||||||
| Service colour | Dark blue and red |
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| Uniform colour | Khaki [3] |
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| Website | Official site | ||||||||||
| Service Chief | |||||||||||
| Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Current: Nehchal Sandhu |
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| Head of the Civil Services | |||||||||||
| Cabinet Secretary Current: A.K. Seth |
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The Indian Police Service (Hindi: भारतीय पुलिस सेवा, Bhāratīya Pulis Sevā), simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India.[4] In 1948, a year after India gained independence from Britain, the Imperial Police (IP) was replaced by the Indian Police Service.
The IPS is not a law enforcement agency; rather it is a civil service in which officers are selected on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations, and to which all police officers are professionally identified. Police officers are employed by the police departments of respective states of India.
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The First Police Commission, appointed on 17 August 1865, contained detailed guidelines for the desired system of police in India and defined police as a governmental department to maintain order, enforce the law, and prevent and detect crime. The Indian Police Service is not a force itself but a service providing leaders and commanders to staff the state police and all-India Para-Military Forces. Its members, who are all at least university graduates, are the senior officers of the police. With the passage of time Indian Police Service's objectives were updated and redefined, the rules and functions of an Indian Police Service Officer are as follows:[5]
Much before the Independence, superior police officers belonging to the Imperial Police (IP) were appointed by the Secretary of State on the basis of competitive examination. The very first open civil service examination for the service was held in England in June, 1893 and the top ten candidates were appointed as probationers of the Indian (Imperial) Police. However, it is not possible to pinpoint a date on which it could positively be claimed that the Indian Police came into being. In around 1907, the Secretary of State’s officers were directed to wear the letters "IP" on their epaulettes to distinguish them from the other officers not recruited by the Secretary of State. In this sense, 1907 could be regarded as the starting point for the Indian Police.[1]
Prakash Singh, one of the former Director Generals of Police of the states of Assam and subsequently Uttar Pradesh and finally Director General of the Border Security Force, initiated a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India, asking the court to investigate measures to reform the police forces across India to ensure the proper rule of law and improve security across India.[6]
Several measures were identified as necessary to professionalize the police in India:
Three new authorities will be created in each state, to prevent political interference in the police and also to make the police accountable for their heavy-handedness,[7] which will include the creation of:
In 2006, due to a lack of action by all the state governments in India, the Supreme Court of India ordered the state governments to report to it why the reform measures outlined were not implemented.[8] After being questioned in front of the judges of the Supreme Court of India, the state governments are finally starting to reform the police forces and give them the operational independence they need for fearless and proper law enforcement.Tamil Nadu Police has been in the forefront of application of the new referendum.[9]
The authorized cadre strength of Indian Police Service is 4720. (3270 Direct Recruitment Posts and 1450 Promotional Posts).[10]
To serve in the IPS one has to be elevated from the state cadre or get a decent rank in the rigorous Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission every year which is a common examination for selection to All India Services, including the IAS and various other Group A and Group B services of Central Government.[11]
Civil Services Examination has a three stage competitive selection process. At stage one, there is an objective type examination called the preliminary exam. This is a qualifying examination. It consists of General Studies & aptitude test. Only the candidates who clear this, can appear for the next stage called the Main examination which consists of nine papers. Each candidate has to select two optional subjects, apart from which all candidates have to take a General Studies, Essay and compulsory language paper and English paper. This is followed by an interview.
After selection for the IPS, candidates are allocated their Cadres. There is one cadre in each Indian state, except for three joint cadres: Assam-Meghalaya, Manipur-Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT). As per Indian Constitution 2/3 of the strength of every cadre is filled by direct IPS officers and rest 1/3 is elevated from respectve state cadre officers. Each state and union territory of India has a state police force, headed by the Commissioner of Police (State) or Director General of Police (DGP). It is controlled by the Chief Minister and Home Minister of the state/union territory. The state police is responsible for maintaining law and order in townships of the state and the rural areas. States such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have taken steps to get their police force trained by advanced police training schools notably the Atlanta City Police of the USA. The Tamil Nadu state police is at the forefront of advancement with the Tamil Nadu Police Academy, which now seeks university status. The advanced training that the Tamil Nadu Police undergo vary from fraud investigation to advanced patrol training. This training when completed will make the Tamil Nadu Police one of the most advanced police forces in India. City Police Services on the other hand are known for their one lesson fits all attitude. The Indian Police Forces have been trying to secure better training and capabilities for their personnel, but with indifferent success due to their own encumbered structure.
IPS officers pay scales, according to the Sixth Central Pay Commission[12]:
| Grade | Position In The State Government(s) | Pay Band | Equivalent Position or Designation In the State Government(s) or Government Of India (GOI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above Super Time Scale (Apex Scale) | Commissioner of Police (State) | 80,000 (fixed) plus grade pay-Nil | Director General of Police - Only one cadre post, all other DGPs are in HAG + scale of Rs 75,500-80,000, Director (GOI), Director General (GOI), Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Above Super Time Scale (HAG)(Pay-Band-4) | Special Commissioner of Police | 67,000-79,000 | Additional Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Special or Additional Director (GOI), Special or Additional Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Super Time Scale (Senior Administrative Grade)(Pay-Band-4) | Joint Commissioner of Police | 37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 10,000 | Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Joint Secretary if empanelled as such (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Super Time Scale (DIG/Conservator Grade)(Pay-Band-4) | Additional Commissioner of Police | 37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 8900 | Deputy Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Selection Grade(Pay-Band-4) | Deputy Commissioner of Police if in the Selection Grade | 15,600-39,100 plus grade Pay of 8700 | Senior Superintendent of Police, Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Junior Administrative Grade(Pay-Band-3) | Deputy Commissioner of Police, also designated as Senior Superintendent in certain States such as UP and Punjab | 15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 7600 | Superintendent of Police, Deputy Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
| Senior Time Scale (Pay-Band-3) | Deputy Commissioner of Police / Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police | 15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 6600 | Additional Superintendent of Police - if placed as such |
| Junior Time Scale(Pay-Band-3) | Assistant Commissioner of Police | 15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 5400 | Deputy Superintendent of Police, Circle Officer, Senior Field Officer (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI) |
All State Police Services officers of and above the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in State Police and Metropolitan Police forces respectively.[13]
The Indian Police Service (IPS) uses military insignia on its shoulder flashes, similar to United Kingdom police forces.
| Insignia | ||||||||||
| Rank | Director of Intelligence Bureau (GOI)¹ | Commissioner of Police (State) or Director General of Police² | Joint Commissioner of Police or Inspector General of Police | Additional Commissioner of Police or Deputy Inspector General of Police | Deputy Commissioner of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police | Deputy Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police | Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police or Additional Superintendent of Police | Assistant Commissioner of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 1 year of service) |
| Abbreviation | DIB | CP or DGP | JCP or IGP | ADL.CP or DIG | DCP or SSP | DCP or SP | ADL.DCP or ASP | ACP or DSP | ASST.SP | ASST.SP |
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As on March 31, 2010 a total number of 33 IPS officers were facing trial on criminal charges in Central Bureau of Investigation cases.[16] The misconduct and corruption among the IPS goes up to the top brass.[17] It has been seen and felt that some upright IPS officers resist corruption and political influence over them, but they cannot alone change a system which victimizes them through harassment and pressures from local politicians, frequent punitive transfers and threats to their families. In an instance, an IPS officer of 1985 batch of Maharashtra cadre dealt with high-profile cases like the US-64 scam and the Panna-Mukta oilfield deal uncovering uncomfortable facts, which he was not willing to conceal, at any cost. However, to prevent him from disturbing the status quo, he was shunted to insignificant postings while his contemporaries received accolades, medals and promotions.[18]
In recent years, a number of tainted corrupt IPS officers have got serious top plum positions[19] whereas a number of upright IPS officers have felt coerced to resign from their post before completing their retirement age and tenure of office.[18] In past years, IPS officers have been accused, prosecuted and jailed in various cases, scams and scandals like murder,[20] sexual harassment,[21] sex-on-tape scandal,[22] dowry harassment,[23] fraud[24] and fake killing encounter.[25][26]
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