Being an IPS officer is a difficult journey that will put your commitment, tolerance, persistence, mental toughness, and physical strength to the test. not to undermine the curriculum, which is meant to broaden their knowledge in various subjects and aid in the development of administrative skills. An evaluation of your character, intelligence, and general personality will be made by UPSC. This blog is a detailed guide on a career as an IPS officer, different paths you can take to become an IPS, and additional job opportunities as an IPS.
What does an IPS Officer Do?
IPS is a highly regarded role in the country’s national affairs. The nature of their work is to enforce law and order at the grassroots level. Their primary responsibilities of IPS include the following:
- Keeping civil peace, investigating, detecting, and preventing crimes.
- VIP protection, counter-terrorism, anti-smuggling, narcotics trafficking, railway policing, disaster control, border policing, and dealing with economic crimes are all areas of focus.
- Improving community policing, security management, and legislation enforcement for national welfare.
- Commanding Central Armed Forces and Indian Intelligence Agencies. Lead paramilitary, central agencies like CBI, IB, and R&AW and interact and coordinate with other All India Service.
Job Roles
The various ranks and positions you fill as an IPS officer are listed below.
- Director General: a leader in a national government or organisation with an international focus who is given overall control of a bureau, department, or agency.
- Additional Director General of Police: To advance to the position of Director General of Police, only after years of service as an IPS officer is a DGP promotion possible.
- Inspector General of Police: A senior police officer in a country’s police force or police service is known as the inspector general of police. It’s the rank that typically designates the commander of a sizable regional command.
- Deputy Inspector General of Police: By inspecting the headquarters and interior districts and keeping in close contact with the District magistrate, they ensure the effectiveness of all branches of the police.
- Senior Superintendent of Police: In India, a senior superintendent of police is in charge of the larger and more significant districts.
- Superintendent of Police: Compared to SSP, they are in charge of a small district.
- Additional Superintendent of Police: responsible for general management of the departments that report to him. He will oversee the district force in place of the superintendent of police.
- Assistant Superintendent of Police: It is a probationary rank for an IPS officer until the second year of their career. IPS begin their careers at this level.
Career path for becoming an IPS
Path 1
- Complete your 12th from Arts
- Do your bachelor’s BA in Economics, Political science, History or also Public Administration (as these subjects will give you an edge for UPSC Preparation) can consider other subjects too.
- Appear for CSE Examination
- Appear for CSE Interview
- Undergo training as per UPSC norms
Path 2
- Complete your 12th from Science
- Complete your BSc, MBBS/BDS, Alternative Medicine or B.Tech. All medical, paramedical and engineering graduates can apply
- Appear for CSE Examination
- Appear for CSE Interview
- Undergo training as per UPSC norms
Path 3
- Complete your 12th from Commerce
- Complete your graduation by doing Bcom, BBA or any finance-related course.
- Appear for CSE Examination
- Appear for CSE Interview
- Undergo training as per UPSC norms
You can also consider giving UPSC examination after you pursue your masters as there is no such restriction to being from a certain educational stream to apply for the exam. You can look at this blog How to become an IPS.
Salary of an IPS Officer in different stages of career
Rank | Salary | |
1. | Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) | ₹56,100 |
2. | Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) | ₹67,700 |
3. | Superintendent of Police (SP) | ₹78,800 |
4. | Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) | ₹1,18,000 |
5. | Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) | ₹1,31,000 |
6. | Inspector General of Police (IGP) | ₹1,44,200 |
7. | Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) | ₹2,05,400 |
8. | Director General of Police (DGP) | ₹2,25,000 |
Skills required to be an IPS
Communication Skills: As an IPS officer, you must be able to argue persuasively in front of officials and administrators from various states, so speaking clearly is crucial. IPS officers are required to produce numerous official documents, so they must be able to write clearly.
Research Skills: IPS officers must conduct in-depth research into pertinent facts. In order to comprehend the state’s situation, their needs, and to formulate legal strategies, the ability to research quickly and effectively is crucial.
Judgement Skills: An IPS officer must be able to infer reasonable, logical inferences or assumptions from the limited information made available to them. They must handle neighbourhood disputes or criminal activity taking place in the district they administer.
Analytical Skills: In order to select the most appropriate or applicable option, an IPS officer must have strong evaluative abilities.
People Skills: An IPS Officer must be able to navigate challenging circumstances in order to maintain law and order in the state. It is crucial for IPS officers to have people skills in order to provide justice to the local population.
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Is IPS a Good Career Option?
Yes, the position of civil services officers in India is regarded as the highest among all government positions. IPS is one of the top positions in civil services in terms of power, responsibility, and a variety of other factors. That is why a large number of applicants are drawn to these prestigious positions. One of the most difficult jobs in the nation, IPS gives you the chance to take leadership responsibilities.
Type of places to work as an IPS
- Teaching Institute
- BSF
- CAPF
- CPO
- CRPF
- NSG
- CISF
- Law Enforcement Agencies
Top Recruiters for IPS
- Government of India
- Yojna IAS Coaching
- Vajiram & Ravi IAS Coaching
- Shankar IAS Coaching
- Drishti IAS Coaching
Courses to Upskill as an IPS
- The Psychology of Criminal Justice
- Understanding Human Trafficking
- Certification in Criminal Law
- Certificate Courses in Human Behaviour
Qualification to become an IPS
To sit for the UPSC exam, a candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Undergraduate Degree in India
The duration of these courses is 3 years.
- BA in Psychology
- BA in Human Behaviors
- BA in Political Science
- BSc in Economics
- BA in History
- LLB
- BSc Forensic Science
Postgraduate Degree in India
The duration of these courses is 2 years.
- MA in Human Behaviours
- MSc in Psychology
- BSc in Economics
- MA in History
Degrees Abroad
Consider getting a BA in English, BSc in Psychology, BA in History, or BSc in Economics among other degrees. a graduate degree in a related field, such as law, psychology, or geography.
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I want to know More!
Books
- The Aspirant
- Life in the Uniform
- Biting the Bullet
- Khaki files
- Criminal Psychology
- Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Bureaucracy But Were Afraid To Ask
- Passport to LBSNAA
- Not Just Like Civil Servant
- Head Held High
- Twelfth Fail
Famous Personalities
- Vinod Kumar Chaubey
- Sanjukta Parashar
- Ajit Kumar
- Sachin Atulkar
- Mohan Chand Sharma
- Hemant Karkare
- Narendra Kumar
- Ashok Kamte
- Vijay Salaskar
- Shivdeep lande
Anyone who wants to influence social change should think seriously about a career in the IPS. We wish you the very best of luck as you pursue your goal of becoming an IPS officer, which may be the ideal career choice for you.
FAQs
How can I join IPS?
You must pass the Civil Services Exam (CSE), administered by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC), with high marks if you want to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). The Civil Service Exam (CSE) is a general exam that the UPSC administers for candidates who want to join the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other services.
Can I become IPS after 12th?
You can take any course to do graduation. You must submit an application for the UPSC’s CSE exam in order to become an IPS Officer. To be chosen for the training, you must also pass the exam.
Is IPS exam difficult?
Every year, around one lakh candidates sit for the Civil Services Examination, one of the hardest exams in the nation. Being a civil servant takes a lot of commitment, perseverance, and discipline.
Is 4 years enough for UPSC?
Yes, 4 years is sufficient time to prepare for the UPSC exam since 3 years of graduation is the minimum requirement for eligibility. You can begin preparing for the exam while pursuing your bachelor’s degree or wait a year after receiving your bachelor’s degree to do so.
Can I clear IPS without coaching?
So it is not impossible to clear the IPS exam without coaching. A proper and strict routine with true determination and commitment will definitely help you to clear the exam with ease.