Life of an IPS Eligibility - Qualification to become an IPS Officer

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Life of an IPS officer

The law and order in every district, city, and state is maintained by the IPS Officers of India. Indian Police Services is the only All India Service that requires the officers to perform a variety of duties concerning various departments. From border responsibilities to crime prevention and disaster management, all is managed by IPS Officers. If you wish to make a difference in society by all means, IPS Officer might be a career choice for you. To know more about career as an IPS Officer, read the complete article.

IPS Exam – Recruiting IPS Officers

There are two recruitment modes to the IPS (Indian Police Service):

  1. Promotion of State Police Service Officers.
  2. Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

For a brief period, there was the provision of a Limited Competitive Examination (LCE) for recruitment to the IPS. However, in 2018, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Centre’s decision to scrap this mode of recruitment of Indian Police Service officers. The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Exam for which almost 5-8 lakh aspirants appear every year. The same exam recruits’ officers for the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, etc.

IPS Eligibility – Qualifications Needed to Become an IPS Officer

To become an IPS officer in India, aspirants must meet the stringent criteria set by the UPSC and clear the IPS exam (Civil Services Exam).
The IPS Eligibility conditions and Qualification Criteria are:

  1. Nationality – Must be an Indian citizen
  2. Age Limit – Minimum age of 21 years, maximum age varies, depending on category and benchmark physical disability
  3. Minimum Educational Qualification – University degree (Graduate) from a recognised University
  4. Number of Attempts – 6 attempts for General category & EWS (More for other categories)
  5. Restriction on Applying – Officers already appointed to the IAS or IFS aren’t eligible
  6. Physical Standards – As per the Rules for Examination

Training

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) is tasked with transforming young IPS officer trainees into professional police officers. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad is the Indian national institute for training of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. This is the premier police training institution in the country before the IPS officer trainees are sent to their respective state cadres to carry out their duties.

The second phase of the IPS training is done in two phases. The first phase commences in the National Police Academy in Hyderabad. The IPS officers also have to do a certain amount of training in a district of their cadre in between the 2 phases of training at the IPS academy.

IPS trainees join the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad (SVPNPA) for the second phase of training, called the Basic Training Course. This phase extends for a period of 11 months where the Officer Trainees (OTs) study various indoor, outdoor and qualifying subjects.

The Basic Training

The purpose of basic training is to build officer trainees capacity to be able to meet the field challenges. The course aims to ensure that the officers acquire necessary skills, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and behaviour required for effectively discharging the duties of a police officer. This training enables initially and later for various senior supervisory assignments in the rank of Superintendent of Police in Districts and Specialised units of the Police Department.

The ‘Integrated Training’ format being used at the Academy to impart training focuses on the fusion of three dimensions: Sensitisation (personal and social), Orientation (ethical and legal) and Competency (domain and inter-segmental).

The National Police Academy aims at nurturing human values in all its areas of activity to prepare trainees not only to be good police professionals but also effective and good human beings.

Thus, the objective of Basic Course training is:

  • Capacity building through the matrix of Sensitisation, Orientation and Competency.
  • Imparting professional knowledge and understanding.
  • Development of professional, Organisational and Community skills.
  • Nurturing human values, right attitudes and appropriate behaviour in professional and personal life and inculcating sensitivity.
  • Development of overall personality that includes self-discipline, character, soft skills, habits, norms and etiquette.
  • Transforming the Probationers into leaders of Police Stations and Police Districts.

During their training at SVPNPA, OTs are ‘attached’ to different units of army, air force, navy, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to familiarise them with service environment which helps them in appreciating the role of other organisations in nation building. The passing out parade of OTs is conducted at the end of 11 months. OTs are now known as probationers for the rest of the training period.

The second phase was about enhancing knowledge about the state cadres they are allocated to including learning the state language. This training takes place at State Police Academies which lasts for a period of three weeks.

This phase also includes a practical training component where trainees are given the responsibility of handling police stations. They are also attached to district police headquarters to observe and learn on the go about policing. This phase lasts for a period of six months.

IPS officers have a dynamic profession which includes various roles and responsibilities. They need to maintain the law and order and offer security to citizens living under their jurisdiction. They are responsible for the prevention and investigation of crimes, corruption, smuggling, controlling traffic, counter-terrorism, ensure VIPs security during their visits, and also commanding India Intelligence Agencies.

Ranks of IPS Officers

IPS officers start their career as the Assistant Superintendent of Police, then getting promoted to the Superintendent of Police. Next, they become the Deputy Inspector General of Police followed by the Inspector General of Police. They later get assigned as the Additional Director General of Police which is followed by the highest rank that is the Director General of Police. Ranks of IPS Officers

Salary and Benefits enjoyed by IPS officers

For entry-level officers, the basic pay is 56,100 per month which increases with every promotion they get, and at the apex level, the salary becomes 2,25,000 per month.

Along with getting a handsome salary, they are entitled to free accommodation, transportation, security guards and house helpers. They also get their phone bills, electricity bills and medical expenses covered by the government. They are also given lifetime pension and other retirement benefits.