What is IPS, What is the full form of IPS

ByPankaj Kumar

The full form of IPS is “Indian Police Service”. This is one of the three big All India Services of India, other than IAS and IFS. IPS originated during British rule under the name “Imperial Police.” The name was changed to Indian Police Service (IPS) after independence in 1948, What is IPS, What is the full form of IPS.

What is IPS, What is the full form of IPS

The main job of IPS officers is to maintain law and order and ensure the citizens’ safety as well as govern the police. These officers operate at the central and state level and are even provided with a high rank in security forces like CRPF, BSF, and NSG. To join the IPS, the candidate needs to clear the UPSC Civil Services Exam, which contains Prelims, Mains, and an Interview.

Which posts are in IPS

There are lots of significant posts in IPS to maintain law and order. People working at all these posts serve as officers both on the state as well as at the central levels. Some primary posts that include IPS officers as follows:

  • Director General of Police (DGP): He is the top rank officer in a state police system and controls all the state’s police system.
  • Inspector General of Police (IG): This officer looks after the police system of some districts.
  • Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG): Reports to the IG and deals with specific sectors.
  • Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP): Head of the district police and is responsible for maintaining law and order.
  • Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP): Assistant to the SSP and handles specific tasks.
  • Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP): Maintains law and order at the district level.

Commissionerate System:

This system is usually found in large cities.

  • Commissioner of Police (CP): He is the head of a city or metropolitan area.
  • Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP): He works under the CP and is responsible for a particular area.
  • Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP): He works under the DCP and supervises two or more police stations.

IPS officers begin their service as ASP and are promoted to other ranks. Their main roles include the prevention of crime, maintenance of law and order, and ensuring safety for the citizens.

What are the duties and responsibilities of IPS

IPS officers are responsible for maintaining law and order and securing the lives of citizens. They devise strategies for preventing crime and maintaining peace in a disaster situation. They also make security arrangements for political rallies, religious events, and other public programs. Security of VIPs like ministers is also taken care of by the IPS officers. These operate both at the forefront as well as at the Centre like CBI, NSG, and BSF. Doing all these job positions, these also contribute crucially to maintenance of peace along with security all across society.

What is the qualification to become IPS

To become an IPS officer, a candidate needs to satisfy definite qualifications and procedures. First, the candidate has to be graduated through a recognized university. Students in the final year of graduation are also eligible for this exam. The age limit is 21 to 32 years for the General category, 35 years for OBC and 37 years for SC/ST candidates. Candidates are selected to be IPS officers after qualifying for the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. The exam is divided into three stages:

  • Prelims: This includes two papers- General Studies and CSAT.
  • Mains: This is a written test on different topics.
  • Interview: This tests the candidate’s individual credentials and knowledge.

Male candidates must have a minimum height of 165 cm, while female candidates should be 150 cm. They also need to clear the physical fitness test and medical examination. All these steps only lead to a candidate becoming an IPS officer.

How many years does IPS training last

IPS officer training is for a total of 16 months which includes academic as well as practical experience. For this, IPS officers first do a 3-month Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie and then they have 11 months of basic training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad.

This training focuses on policing, law, administrative skills, and physical fitness. Then, for 6 months, candidates are sent to various districts for District Practical Training, where they gain real policing experience. Finally, they return to SVPNPA for a 1-month final training.

What features does IPS have

IPS officers are provided with many special facilities that make their service easier and effective. They are given a large government bungalow with all amenities, including a garden, gardener, and driver. Security guards are also provided for safety. A government vehicle is also allotted for duty purposes. The starting salary of IPS officers is Inr 56,000 per month, which increases with promotions. They also receive travel and house rent allowances.

They can use free medical facilities and their family’s in the big hospitals. Annual education allowance is also provided to them for the education of their children. Now talking about leaves, they get 30 days annual leave and 16 days casual leave every year besides medical leave. IPS officers also get an opportunity to study abroad. A lifetime pension along with other retirement benefits is given after retirement. Additionally, there are promotional opportunities after 4, 9, 18, and 25 years of service. All these facilities assist IPS officers in maintaining a balance between their work and personal life.

What is the salary of IPS 

The IPS officer’s starting salary isInr Inr 56,100 a month and will increase in case of experience. In addition, according to rank promotion, the Income of officers increases. For instance, an IG has around Inr 1,44,200 as a salary while a DGP can have a salary of up to Inr 2,25,000 a month.

Apart from the salary, IPS officers get many facilities, including government accommodation, a vehicle, a driver, security guards, and free medical services. Electricity and phone bills are also paid by the government. Moreover, they are provided with a pension facility after promotion. So, considering all these facilities, IPS officers live their life in respect and security.

FAQs

What does IPS mean

The complete form of IPS is known as “Indian Police Service,” known as “Bharatiya Police Seva” in Hindi. It is one of the country’s three major services, and its job is to maintain law and order throughout the country. IPS officers head the police force and seek to avoid crime and maintain security.

How many IPS officers are available each year

In each year, nearly 100 to 150 candidates get selected through the Civil Services Exam and of them, a few are appointed as IPS officers. This is also a relative number based on the examination conducted and the candidates’ performance.