What Police Related Job Can I Take Up During My Preparation for IPS?

IPS stands for Indian Police Service and is one of the most important departments for civil services in India. Placed among the three major All India Services (along with IAS and IFS), the primary role of IPS officers is to uphold the dignity of law enforcement and protection of the public against crime. Read along to find out about the police-related jobs that can be taken up during the IPS preparation.

A position in the IPS has to be acquired through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of the Indian government. A dedicated UPSC preparation strategy is essential for securing the IPS position, as it is a dream for millions of students each year in India, and is a tough position to reach.

UPSC Preparation for IPS

The UPSC exam is conducted for more than 20 civil services positions in India each year. The exam pattern is common for every position, and the preparation remains the same for IPS as well. The three stages for the exam and Preliminary, Mains exam, and a personality interview. It is important to prepare a UPSC strategy for IPS preparation along with keeping track of dates like application, tests, interviews, and results.

The national level exam is conducted each year, and there are around 800 vacancies for approximately 800,000 applicants for IPS. The maximum number of attempts can be 6, for a total of 24 positions. A medical test is conducted for physical examination after the prelims, mains, and interviews are completed.

Eligibility for IPS Preparation

For academic qualifications, the candidate is required to have a bachelor’s degree from any university recognized by the UGC or equivalent. The candidate should be 21 to a maximum of 32 years in age. There are relaxations in the age criteria for SCs, STs, OBCs, and a few other sections. Also, the candidate should be a citizen of India.

For the IPS exam, other than the educational qualifications, a set of physical requirements are needed which include height, chest girth, and eyesight. The minimum height required is 165cm and 150cm respectively for men and women. Chest girth and eyesight should also be in accordance with the requirements that can classify the candidate as fit for the position.

Also Read: How to Balance Optional and General Studies to Clear UPSC?

Roles and Responsibilities of IPS

Upon appointment as an IPS officer, the primary role is to maintain law enforcement and public protection. Other than that, the officers also command Indian intelligence agencies as per their experience and seniority. The following points highlight the roles and responsibilities:

• To communicate with, lead, and common Indian intelligence agencies like Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), etc.
• To maintain law and order in fields of criminal activities, VIP security, anti-terrorism, border patrolling, investigation, drugs trafficking, corruption, and economic offences, etc.
• Coordination with IRS and Indian Armed Forces.
• Upholding the dignity of the Indian Police department by selflessly serving the nation and its citizens.

IPS Salary and Positions

On the basis of the 7th pay commission, the entry-level salary for IPS officers is INR 56,100 and can go up to INR 2,25,000. The salaries are raised with positional promotions. The following table shows the different positions, and their equivalents in the Indian Government, along with the monthly salary.

IPS Training

The training of IPS officers is conducted in four different stages. The first step is the foundation course, which is 3-4 months in duration and is conducted at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. This is followed by the Phase I training or the basic course training at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad. A 6-month physical training is also conducted at the particular cadre for the officer.

The final phase II training is a one-month completion course at the SVPNPA. The objective of the first foundation course is to provide fresh candidates with the skills and knowledge about public services.

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Objectives of Foundation Training

• To cultivate coordination and management in public services
• Personality development of the candidate for shaping him, aesthetically, physically, and intellectually
• Imparting moral values and attitude to deal with professional and personal issues
• Strengthening self-discipline and soft skills in the candidate
• Shaping the candidates from freshmen to leaders and commanders of police departments by the overall development

Cadre Allocation for IPS officers

The existing 26 cadres in the country have been divided into five zones. The candidate is required to make his choice of cadres in the descending order, and no change is permitted once chosen. The 6-month physical training of the candidate will take place in the allotted cadre. Have a look below at the 5 zones for cadres in India:

Subjects for IPS Preparation

The position of IPS is secured through the UPSC civil services exam. The exam is conducted in 3 stages and is important to learn all about UPSC preparation. The subjects for the prelims exam is one chosen Indian language out of the options for Paper A and English language test for Paper B. The mains exam consists of seven papers, the subjects for which are given in the table below:

Conclusion

IPS is a prominent civil services position in the country and a part of the prestigious three All India Services. Hopefully, this blog covered everything you need to know about the UPSC and IPS preparation and what are the police-related jobs that can be taken up during that time. The position of Indian Police Service carries a dignity as well as a responsibility with it, and it is essential to go through the grind to reach there.

Also Read: IPS Ravi D Channannavar Wiki: His Struggles and How he Conquered His Feat of UPSC