Indian Police Service

This article is about the civil service,the Indian Police Service. For the police in India, see Law enforcement in India.
Indian Police Service
Agency overview
Formed 1948[1]
Preceding Agency Indian Imperial Police[1]
Type All India Service
Jurisdiction India Republic of India
Employees 4730[2]
Minister responsible Rajnath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs
Agency executives Dineshwar Sharma, Director of Intelligence Bureau
Ajit Seth, Cabinet Secretary
Parent agency Ministry of Home Affairs
Website http://mha1.nic.in/ips/ips_home.htm
Service colour Dark blue and red
        
Uniform colour Khaki[3]
    

The Indian Police Service (Bhāratīya Pulis Sevā) or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India.[4] It has replaced the Indian (Imperial) Police in 1948, a year after India gained independence from Britain.

Objective

The First Police Commission, appointed on 17 August 1865, contained detailed guidelines for the desired system of police in India and defined the police as a governmental department to maintain order, enforce the law, and to 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 Central Armed Police Forces. Its members are the senior officers of the police. With the passage of time Indian Police Service's objectives were updated and redefined, the current rules and functions of an Indian Police Service Officer are as follows:[5]

Kolkata Police Force.
Armoured vehicles and personnel of the Mumbai Police Force.
Greater Chennai Police patrol car.

History

Prior to Independence, senior police officers belonging to the Imperial Police (IP) were appointed by the Secretary of State on the basis of a competitive examination. The first open civil service examination for admission to the service was held in England in June 1893 and the ten top candidates were appointed as probationers in the Indian (Imperial) Police. It is not possible to pinpoint an exact date on which the Indian Police came formally into being. Around 1907, the Secretary of State's officers were directed to wear the letters "IP" on their epaulettes in order to distinguish them from the other officers not recruited by the Secretary of State through examination. In this sense, 1907 could be regarded as the starting point.[1] In 1948, a year after India gained independence; the Imperial Police was replaced by IPS.

Cadre strength

The authorised cadre strength of Indian Police Service is 4720. (3270 Direct Recruitment Posts and 1450 Promotional Posts).[6] Posted 20 December 2012 Vol 3 Issue 50

IPS Civil List

Civil List of IPS officers is an updated (annual) list maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India that lists the posting details of all IPS officers in India. This Civil List can be accessed from this MHA site. It allows searching for an IPS officer on the basis of his name, Batch or Cadre...

Selection

National Police Memorial New Delhi

IPS officers are recruited from the state police cadres and from the rigorous Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission every year.[7] Due to an ongoing shortage of police officers in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed the creation of an Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination to be conducted by UPSC.[8]

The 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 a General Studies paper and an aptitude test. Only the candidates who pass this can appear for the "Main Examination" which consists of nine papers. Each candidate has to select an optional subject (one paper) and to take six General Studies papers, an Essay, an English language paper and a regional language paper. This is followed by an interview.

After selection for the IPS, candidates are allocated to a cadre. There is one cadre in each Indian state, with the exception of three joint cadres: Assam-Meghalaya, Manipur-Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT). Two-thirds of the strength of every cadre is filled directly by IPS officers and the remaining are promoted from the respective states cadre officers.

Pay structure (gazetted officers) IPS & CA

Grade Position in the State Government(s) Salary (monthly) Equivalent Position or Designation in the State Government(s) or Government of India (GOI)
Director of Intelligence Bureau Grade No Equivalent position in State Government, Four Star Rank in Government of India INR90,000 fixed Director of Intelligence Bureau - only one post in the country
Above Super Time Scale (Apex Scale)(After 30 years of service in IPS Cadre)[9] Commissioner of Police (State), Three star rank INR80,000 (fixed) plus grade pay-Nil Director General of Police – Only one cadre post, all other DGPs/CPs are in HAG + scale of Rs75,500–80,000, Director (GOI), Director General (GOI), Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), Director General in CAPFs.
Above Super Time Scale (HAG)(Pay-Band-4)(After 25 years of service in IPS Cadre)[10] Special Commissioner of Police, Three star rank INR67,000-INR79,000 plus grade pay of INR12,000 Additional Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Special or Additional Director (GOI), Special or Additional Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), ADG in CAPFs.
Super Time Scale (Senior Administrative Grade)(Pay-Band-4)(After 18 years of service in IPS Cadre) Joint Commissioner of Police, Two star rank INR37,400-INR67,000 plus grade pay of INR10,000 Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Joint Secretary if empaneled as such (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), IG of CAPFs.
Super Time Scale (DIG/Conservator Grade)(Pay-Band-4)(After 14 years of service in IPS Cadre) Additional Commissioner of Police, One star rank INR37,400-INR67,000 plus grade pay of INR8900 Deputy Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), DIG in CAPFs.
Selection Grade(Pay-Band-4)(After 13 years of service in IPS Cadre) Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police 37,400-INR67,000 plus grade Pay of INR8700+ Senior Superintendent of Police, Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), Commandants of CAPFs.
Junior Administrative Grade(Pay-Band-3)(After 9 years of service in IPS Cadre) Deputy Commissioner of Police INR15,600-INR39,100 plus grade pay of INR7600 Superintendent of Police, Deputy Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI),

Second-in-Command of CAPFs.

Senior Time Scale (Pay-Band-3)(After 4 years of service in IPS Cadre) Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police INR15,600-INR39,100 plus grade pay of INR6600 Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Commandants of CAPFs.
Junior Time Scale(Pay-Band-3)(Initial Pay IPS Cadre) Assistant Commissioner of Police INR15,600-INR39,100 plus grade pay of INR5400 Deputy Superintendent of Police, Circle Officer, Senior Field Officer (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), Assistant Commandants of CAPFs.

Ranks and insignia

Ranks of the IPS

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.[11]

  • Director Generals, Indian Intelligence agencies (Government of India)
  • Director Generals, Indian Federal law enforcement agencies (Government of India)
  • Director Generals, Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Secretary(ies) (R), Cabinet Secretariat, (Government of India)
  • Special Commissioners of Police or Additional Director Generals of Police, States and territories of India
  • Special or Additional Director Generals, Indian Intelligence agencies (Government of India)
  • Special or Additional Director Generals, Indian Federal law enforcement agencies (Government of India)
  • Special or Additional Director Generals, Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Special or Additional Secretar(ies) (R), Cabinet Secretariat (Government of India)
  • Joint Directors or Inspector-Generals, Indian Intelligence agencies (Government of India)
  • Joint Directors or Inspector-Generals, Indian Federal law enforcement agencies (Government of India)
  • Joint Directors or Inspector-Generals, Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Joint Secretar(ies) (R), Cabinet Secretariat, (Government of India)
  • Directors or Deputy Inspector-Generals, Indian Intelligence agencies (Government of India)
  • Directors or Deputy Inspector-Generals, Indian Federal law enforcement agencies (Government of India)
  • Directors or Deputy Inspector-Generals, Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Director(s) (R), Cabinet Secretariat, (Government of India)
  • Deputy Secretary(ies) (R), Cabinet Secretariat, (Government of India)
  • Other officers above selection grade
  • Commandants in Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Under Secretary(ies) (R), Cabinet Secretariat, (Government of India)
  • Commandant of State Armed Police Battalion
  • Other officer on Junior Administrative Grade with between 9 and 13 years service
  • Second-in-Command in Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Other officers on senior time scale with 9 years service or less
  • Deputy Commandants of Central Armed Police Forces (Government of India)
  • Assistant Superintendent of Police
  • Indian Police Service officer probationary rank on 2nd year of service
  • Assistant Superintendent of Police
  • Indian Police Service officer probationary rank on 1st year of service

Reforms

India's police continue to be governed by an archaic and colonial police law passed in 1861. The Indian Constitution makes policing a state subject and therefore the state governments have the responsibility to provide their communities with a police service. However, after independence, most have adopted the 1861 Act without change, while others have passed laws heavily based on the 1861 Act.

Repeated major incidents, (latest of them being 2012 Delhi gang rape) revealed failure of police to uphold the rule of law.[14][15]

The need for reform of police in India has been long recognised. There has been almost 30 years of debate and discussion by government created committees and commissions on the way forward for police reform, but India remains saddled with an outdated and old-fashioned law, while report after report gathers dust on government bookshelves without implementation. Many committees on police reforms have recommended major reforms in the police system coupled with systematic accountability.[16][17]

National Police Commission (1977-81)

National Police Commission was the first committee set up by the Indian government to report on policing. The National Police Commission began sitting in 1979, in the context of a post-Emergency India, and produced eight reports, including a Model Police Act, between 1979 and 1981.[18]

Ribeiro Committee (1998-99)

In 1996, two former senior police officers filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, asking for the Court to direct governments to implement the recommendations of the National Police Commission. The Supreme Court directed the government to set up a committee to review the Commission's recommendations, and thus the Ribeiro Committee was formed. The Committee, under the leadership of J. F. Ribeiro, a former chief of police, sat over 1998 and 1999, and produced two reports.[18][19]

Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)

In 2000, the government set up a third committee on police reform, this time under the stewardship of a former union Home Secretary, K. Padmanabhaiah. This Committee released its report in the same year.[18][20]

Malimath Committee Report (2003)

The Malimath Committee Report submitted in March, 2003 has very articulately laid down the foundation of a restructured and reoriented police system.[21] The Committee in its report observed that the success of the whole process of Criminal Justice Administration depended completely on the proper functioning of the police organisation especially in the investigation stage. Apart from the investigation of offences, the police also have the duty of maintaining law and order.

Soli Sorabjee Committee (2005)

See also: Soli Sorabjee

In 2005, the government put together a group to draft a new police Act for India. It was headed by Soli Sorabjee (former Attorney General). The committee submitted a Model Police Act to the union government in late 2006.[18]

Supreme Court intervention (2006)

In 1996, Prakash Singh (a former Directors General 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. The Supreme Court studied various reports on police reforms. Finally, in 2006, a bench of Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice C.K. Thakker and Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan[22] ordered the state governments to implement several reforms in police force.[23]

Several measures were identified as necessary to professionalise 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,[24] which will include the creation of:

Follow-up from Supreme Court

In 2006, due to a lack of action by all the state governments,[25] the Supreme Court ordered the state governments to report to it why the reform measures outlined were not implemented.[26] After being questioned in front of the judges of the Supreme Court, 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.[27]

Again, in October 2012, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justices SS Nijjar and Jasti Chelameswar asked all state governments and Union territories to inform about compliance of its September 2006 judgement. The order was passed when Prakash Singh through his lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that many of the reforms (ordered by the Supreme Court) have yet not been implemented by many state governments.[28]

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Data History of Indian Police Service (Official Raj Govt. Page)". Retrieved 2010-04-26.
    2. ↑ "Ministry of Home Affairs: Annual Report 2011-2012" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
    3. ↑ "Why is the colour of the Indian police uniform khaki?". The Times of India. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
    4. ↑ "IPS, IAS and IFS: All India Services (Government of India)" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-04-13.
    5. ↑ "Duties and Responsibilities of Indian Police Service officers". UPSCguide.com. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
    6. ↑ http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/ips_cadre_stren.pdf
    7. ↑ "Awaaz India Pvt. Ltd – About Indian Police Service". Retrieved 2010-04-26.
    8. ↑ "Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination" (PDF). UPSC. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
    9. ↑ http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/ProGuidPAR160410.pdf
    10. ↑ http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/IPS-Guid-190710.pdf
    11. ↑ "Modern ranks and insignia of IPS and SPS Officers Bio". Retrieved 2010-01-20.
    12. ↑ "Director, Intelligence Bureau's Insignia Equivalent to Armed Forces Generals". Government of India. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
    13. ↑ Indian Military : Service Benefits and Issues: Illegal (Police) badges of rank in J & K. Indianmilitary.info (2011-01-10). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
    14. ↑ "Inept Delhi cops get HC rap". DNA. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
    15. ↑ "Two ACPs are suspended". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
    16. ↑ "Failure of governance root cause of crimes against women: Verma committee". The Hindu. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
    17. ↑ "Read: Highlights of Justice Verma Committee report". CNNIBNLive. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org". Retrieved 12 April 2013.
    19. ↑ "Ribeiro Committee". Archived from the original on 6 Mar 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
    20. ↑ "Padmanabhaiah Committee". Archived from the original on 6 Mar 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
    21. ↑ Dutta, Mriganka Shekhar; Marico Baruah (January 1, 2008). "POLICING THE NATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY : AN APPRAISAL OF THE PROPOSED REFORMS" (PDF). NUJS Law Review. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
    22. ↑ "Prakash Singh Case". Retrieved 12 April 2013.
    23. ↑ Prasad, Devika; Caroline Avanzo (5 November 2006). "Seize the opportunity". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
    24. ↑ Strip, Mobius; Ramesh Ramanathan (7 May 2007). "Sohrabbudin's encounter: An article on Prakash Singh, IPS". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
    25. ↑ "COMPLIANCE WITH SUPREME COURT DIRECTIVES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
    26. ↑ "The Supreme Court of India takes the lead on police reform: Prakash Singh vs. Union of India". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
    27. ↑ Das, Sunrat (6 May 2007). "Board to lend ears to transfer woes". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
    28. ↑ "SC asks states to file affidavit on police reforms". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.

    Further reading

    External links

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