View source for Indian Police Service

{{short description|One of the Central Civil Services}}
{{About|the civil service, the Indian Police Service|the police in India|Law enforcement in India}}
{{redirect|Indian Police Force|the web series|Indian Police Force (web series)}}
{{other uses|Indian Police (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox
| title            = Indian Police Service
| subheaderstyle   = background:#800080; color:white;
| subheader1       = Service Overview
| image            = 
| captionstyle     = 
| caption          = '''Motto:''' {{lang|sa|[[Satyameva Jayate|सत्यमेव जयते]]}} {{small|([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]])}}<br />"Truth Alone Triumphs"
| label3           = Formerly known as
| data3            = [[Indian Imperial Police|Imperial Police]]<ref name=history/>
| label4           = Abbreviation
| data4            = IPS
| label5           = Date of Establishment
| data5            = {{Unbulleted_list|{{Start date and age|1905}}<br>{{small|(as Imperial Police)}}|{{Start date and age|1948}}<br>{{small|(as Indian Police Service)}}}}<ref name=history/>
| label6           = Country
| data6            = India
| label7           = Staff College
| data7            = [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy|Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad]]
| label8           = Cadre Controlling Authority
| data8            = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]
| label9           = Minister Responsible
| data9            = [[Amit Shah]], [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Union Cabinet Minister for Home Affairs]].
| label10          = Legal personality
| data10           = [[Governmental]]: [[Civil Service]]
| label11          = Duties
| data11           = 
| label12          = [[En cadre|Cadre Strength]]
| data12           = 3,894 members (2016)<ref name="2016 IPS Cadre">{{cite web|title=Authorised Cadre Strength of the Indian Police Service (as on 01.01.2016)|url=http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/Cadrestrength2016.pdf|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828164001/http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/Cadrestrength2016.pdf|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| label13          = Selection
| data13           = [[Civil Services Examination]]
| label14          = Association
| data14           = IPS (Central) Association
| headerstyle      = background:#800080; color:white;
| header15         = 
| label16          = 
| data16           = 
}}

The '''Indian Police Service''' ({{small|abbr.}} '''IPS''') is a [[civil service]] under the [[All India Services]]. It replaced the [[Imperial Police]] in 1948, a year after India became [[Partition of India|independent]] from the [[British Raj]].

Along with the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) and the [[Indian Forest Service]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE THIS TO FOREIGN SERVICE--> (IFS), the IPS is one of the [[All India Services]]<ref name="india-service">{{cite web|title=IPS, IAS and IFS: All India Services (Government of India)|url=http://persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/AISRule/AISManual_Updated_27112007/2.The%20All%20India%20Services%20Act,%201951.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416205616/http://persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/AISRule/AISManual_Updated_27112007/2.The%20All%20India%20Services%20Act,%201951.pdf|archive-date=16 April 2009|access-date=13 April 2009}}</ref> – its officers are employed by both the [[Government of India|Union Government]] and the individual [[States and union territories of India|states]].

The service commands and provides leadership to State police forces and Union territories' police forces, [[Central Armed Police Forces]] ([[Border Security Force|BSF]], [[Sashastra Seema Bal|SSB]], [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]], [[Central Industrial Security Force|CISF]], and [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police|ITBP]]), the [[National Security Guard]] (NSG), [[National Disaster Response Force]] (NDRF), [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB), [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (R&AW), [[Special Protection Group]] (SPG), [[National Investigation Agency|National Investigative Agency]] (NIA) and the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI).

==History==
{{Rquote|right|There is no alternative to this administrative system... The Union will go, you will not have a united India if you do not have good All-India Service which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has sense of security that you will standby your work... If you do not adopt this course, then do not follow the present Constitution. Substitute something else... these people are the instrument. Remove them and I see nothing, but a picture of chaos all over the country. |'''[[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]]'''  in Constituent Assembly discussing the role of [[All India Services]]<ref name="Discussion in Constituent Assembly on role of Indian Administrative Service">{{cite web|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol10p3a.htm|title=Discussion in Constituent Assembly on role of Indian Administrative|publisher=Government of India|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909090903/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol10p3a.htm|archive-date=9 September 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Save the integrity of the civil service">{{cite web|title=Save the integrity of the civil service|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/op-ed/020717/save-the-integrity-of-the-civil-service.html|access-date=18 September 2017|date=July 2017}}</ref><ref name="One Who Forged India’s Steel Frame">{{cite web|title=One Who Forged India's Steel Frame|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=15210|author=H.N. Bali|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730005641/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=15210|archive-date=30 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

===British India===
{{multiple image
 | width = 90
 | image1 = BombayPoliceJamadar pre1910.jpeg
 | alt1 = Jamadar (NCO) of the Bombay City Police 1910s
 | image2 = BombayArmedPoliceConstable pre1910.jpeg
 | alt2 = Armed Constable of the Bombay City Police 1910s
 | image3 = BombayPoliceSgt pre1910.jpeg
 | alt3 = NCO of the Bombay City Police 1910s
 | footer = Jamadar, constable and sergeant – NCO positions opened to Indians until 1920
}}
[[File:Indian Police Medal 1940.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Indian Police Medal issued in 1940]]
In 1861, the [[British Parliament]] introduced the ''Indian Councils Act, 1861''.<ref name="Comparative Criminal Justice Systems">{{cite book|title=Comparative Criminal Justice Systems|last=Shahidullah|first=Shahid M.|publisher=[[Jones & Bartlett Learning]]|year=2012|isbn=9781449604257|location=[[Burlington, Massachusetts]]}}</ref> The act created the foundation of a modern and professionalised police bureaucracy in India. It introduced a new cadre of police, called '''Superior Police Services''', later known as the [[Indian Imperial Police]].<ref name="Comparative Criminal Justice Systems"/> The highest rank in the service was the [[Inspector-general of police|inspector general]]<ref name="Comparative Criminal Justice Systems"/> for each province. The rank of [[Inspector-general of police|inspector general]] was equated and ranked with [[brigadier]],<ref name="Army Police WoP">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/a-worrisome-slide-in-army-s-status/story-iiODBwoOubZOigw6il4XDP.html|title=A worrisome slide in Army's status|last=Bhullar|first=Colonel (Retd) Pritam|date=19 July 2015|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> and similar ranks in the [[Indian Armed Forces]], as per central warrant of precedence in 1937.{{efn|The rank of IGP is ranked and equated with the rank of Brigadier / equivalent rank of the Indian Armed Forced as per Warrant of Precedence – 1937, as per Ministry of Home Affairs' directions contained in Letter No 12/11/99-Pub II dated 26 December 1966.  This Warrant of Precedence is compiled from a joint consideration of the existing Central Warrant of Precedence (which is till the rank of Major General) and Warrant of Precedence – 1937, as per Ministry of Home Affairs' directions contained in Letter No 12/11/99-Pub II dated 26 December 1966, the validity of which has been confirmed by Letter No 12/1/2007-Public dated 14 August 2007. The MHA has confirmed in 2007 that the Old Warrant of Precedence shall be taken as a guide to determine ranks below the ones mentioned in the current WoP.}}<ref name="Army Police WoP"/>

In 1902–03, a police commission was established for the Police reforms under [[Andrew Henderson Leith Fraser|Sir Andrew Fraser]] and [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon]].<ref name="Police British Study">{{cite book|title=Police Reforms in India: An Analytical Study|last=Alexander|first=K.|publisher=Discovery Publishing Group|year=2006|isbn=9788183561280|location=[[New Delhi]]}}</ref> It recommended the appointment of Indians at officer level in the police. Indians could rise only to the ranks of Inspector of police, the senior N.C.O. position. However they were not part of [[Indian Imperial Police]].<ref name="Police British Study"/>

From 1920, Indian Imperial Police was open to Indians and the entrance examination for the service was conducted both in India and England.<ref name="Police British Study"/>

[[File:Indian Police Service 1999 stamp.jpg|thumb|A 1999 stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of IPS]]
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.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://rajpolice.nic.in/ab-historyIP.htm|title=Data History of Indian Police Service (Official Raj Govt. Page)|access-date=26 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503152957/http://rajpolice.nic.in/ab-historyIP.htm|archive-date=3 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1948, a year after India gained independence; the Imperial Police was replaced by IPS.

===  Indian Police Service  ===
The Indian Police Service was created under the ''Article 312(2) in part XIV of the [[Constitution of India]].''<ref name="Services under the Union and the states">{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(19).pdf|title=Part XIV of the Constitution of India- Services under the Union and the States – Article 312(2)|website=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]], Government of India|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203131448/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(19).pdf|archive-date=3 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As per media reports, there is a massive shortage of IPS officers in India, amounting to nearly 19% to 22% of sanctioned strength.<ref name="IPS Shortfall"/><ref name="IPS Strength">{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/908-posts-of-ips-officers-lying-vacant/articleshow/51480868.cms|title=908 posts of IPS officers lying vacant|date=20 March 2016|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

====Medals and decorations====
{{Main article|Police Medal (India)|President's Police Medal}}
Despite being a very small cadre strength many IPS officers have been awarded highest gallantry awards (Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra). The present National Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval, who was an IPS officer was awarded Kirti Chakra for his gallant actions during operation Black Thunder. Though generally deployed in supervisory capacity at senior levels it's not uncommon for even a three star general rank IPS officers to be seen on the road taking active part in law and order maintenance. IPS officers have been posted to various UN Missions have been awarded [[United Nations Medal]]. Many exceptional IPS officers have been awarded with Padma awards from time to time.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Objective==
[[File:The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind with the Probationers of 70 RR (2017 Batch) of the Indian Police Service from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 12, 2018 (1).JPG|alt=Khaki-clad officers supervise a peaceful demonstration|thumb|Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind with Indian Police Service Officers at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi, 2018.]]

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 [[Ministry (government department)|governmental department]] to maintain order, [[Law enforcement organisation|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 roles and functions of an Indian Police Service Officer are as follows:<ref name="IPS Duties & Responsibilities">{{cite web|url=http://www.upscguide.com/UPSC/UPSC_exam/civil_services/CS_services/CS_IPS.htm|title=Duties and Responsibilities of Indian Police Service officers|publisher=UPSCguide.com|access-date=19 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102111003/http://www.upscguide.com/UPSC/UPSC_exam/civil_services/CS_services/CS_IPS.htm|archive-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* To fulfil duties based on border responsibilities, in the areas of maintenance of public peace and order, crime prevention, investigation, and detection, collection of intelligence, [[Very Important Person|VIP]] [[Protective security units|security]], [[counter-terrorism]], border policing, railway policing, tackling [[smuggling]], drug trafficking, economic offences, corruption in [[Politics|public life]], [[disaster management]], enforcement of [[socio-economic]] legislation, [[bio-diversity]] and protection of [[environmental law]]s etc.
* Leading and commanding the [[List of Indian Intelligence agencies|Indian Intelligence Agencies]] like [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (R&AW), [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB), [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI), [[Criminal Investigation Department]] (CID) etc., [[List of federal law enforcement agencies of India|Indian Federal Law Enforcement Agencies]], Civil and Armed Police Forces in all the [[List of state and union territory capitals in India|states and union territories]].
* Leading and commanding various [[Central Armed Police Forces]] (CAPF) which include the Central Police Organisations (CPO) such as [[Border Security Force]] (BSF), [[Central Reserve Police Force]] (CRPF), [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police]] (ITBP), [[National Security Guard]] (NSG), [[Central Industrial Security Force]] (CISF), Vigilance Organisations and [[List of federal law enforcement agencies of India|Indian Federal Law Enforcement Agencies]].
* To lead and [[Command (military formation)|command]] the force with [[courage]], uprightness, dedication and a strong sense of [[Public services|service]] to the people.
* Endeavor to inculcate in the [[police forces]] under their command such values and norms as would help them [[Public services|serve]] the people better.
* Inculcate integrity of the highest order, sensitivity to aspirations of people in a fast-changing social and economic milieu, respect for human rights, broad liberal perspective of law and [[justice]] and high standard of professionalism.

==Selection==
[[File:Police cap.jpg|thumb|upright=0.77|right|The [[peaked cap]] worn by  Indian Police Service officers as part of their uniform code.]]
IPS officers are recruited from [[Civil Services Examination]] conducted by [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC]]. They are also promoted from [[State Police Services (India)|State Police Services]] and [[DANIPS]]. However, at present, recruitment from [[Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination|Limited Competitive Examination]] has been put on hold.<ref name="IPS Shortfall">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-states-reel-under-huge-shortfall-of-ips-officers-2207184|title=States reel under huge shortfall of IPS officers|last=Kumar|first=Manan|date=29 April 2016|website=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

===Training===
The training of IPS officer recruits is conducted at [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy]] in [[Hyderabad]]. The authorised cadre strength of Indian Police Service is 4920. (3270 Direct Recruitment Posts and 1650 Promotional Posts).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/ips_cadre_stren.pdf |title=Authorised Cadre Strength of the Indian Police Service (as on 01.01.2011) |access-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112000028/http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/ips_cadre_stren.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2011 |date=1 January 2011|publisher=nic.in }}</ref> The Civil List of IPS officers is an updated (annual) list maintained by the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|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 the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|MHA website]]. It allows searching for an IPS officer on the basis of their name, Batch or Cadre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mha1.nic.in/IPS_Query.asp|title=Indian Police Service (IPS) – Civil List 2017|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224155708/http://mha1.nic.in/IPS_Query.asp|archive-date=24 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== State cadres ===

==== Cadre allocation policy ====
The [[Government of India|Union Government]] announced a new cadre allocation policy for the [[All India Services]] in August 2017, touting it as a policy to ensure national integration of the bureaucracy as officers and ensure All-India character of the services. Under the new policy, the existing 26 cadres have been divided into five zones in the new policy by the Department of Personnel and Training of [[Government of India]].<ref name="AIS New Cadre Policy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-centre-amends-cadre-allocation-policy-to-protect-national-character-of-all-india-services-2536413|title=New cadre Policy which focuses on National Integration of All India
|last=Dutta|first=Amrita Nayak|date=21 August 2017|website=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="New Cadre Policy">{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/new-cadre-policy-for-ias-ips-4810709/|title=New cadre policy for IAS, IPS|date=24 August 2017|website=The Indian Express|access-date=24 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/x5gb1MTwzWCn35dsdBKRqI/Govts-proposed-cadre-policy-for-IAS-IPS-officers-draws-ire.html|title=Govt's proposed cadre policy for IAS, IPS officers draws ire|last=Bhaskar|first=Utpal|date=24 August 2017|website=Live Mint|publisher=[[HT Media Ltd]]|access-date=19 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/govt-finalises-new-cadre-policy-for-ias-ips-officers/1/1032277.html|title=Govt finalises new cadre policy for IAS, IPS officers|date=23 August 2017|editor-last=Shrivastava|editor-first=Ashwini|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-finalises-new-allocation-policy-for-ias-ips-officers/story-N22dUxnK9bGU73JaNoC3xN.html|title=IAS, IPS allocation policy rejigged for 'national integration of bureaucracy'|date=23 August 2017|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/240817/government-finalises-new-cadre-policy-for-ias-ips-officers.html|title=Central government finalises new cadre policy for IAS, IPS officers|date=24 August 2017|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://persmin.gov.in/AIS1/Docs/cadrepolicy2017.pdf|title=Cadre Allocation Policy for the All India Services-IAS/IPS/IFoS – Reg.|date=5 September 2017|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref>

Under the new policy, a candidate has to first give their choice in the descending order of preference from amongst the various Zones.<ref name=":8" /> Subsequently, the candidate has to indicate one preference of cadre from each preferred zone.<ref name=":8" /> The candidate indicates their second cadre preference for every preferred zone subsequently. The process continues till a preference for all the cadres is indicated by the candidate.<ref name=":8" /> The preference for the zones/cadres remains in the same order and no change is permitted.<ref name=":8" />

Officers continue to work in the cadre they are allotted or are deputed to the [[Government of India]].<ref name="ifs.nic.in">{{cite web|url=http://ifs.nic.in/deputation/con-depu%20guide.pdf|title=Consolidated Deputation Guidelines for All India Services|date=28 November 2007|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|language=en|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Zones under the new Cadre Allocation Policy
!Zone
!Cadres
|-
|'''Zone-I'''
|AGMUT ([[Arunachal Pradesh]]-[[Goa]]-[[Mizoram]] and [[Union territory|Union Territories]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]]), [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]] and [[Haryana]].
|-
|'''Zone-II'''
|[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and [[Odisha]].
|-
|'''Zone-III'''
|[[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Chhattisgarh]].
|-
|'''Zone-IV'''
|[[West Bengal]], [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]]-[[Meghalaya]], [[Manipur]], [[Tripura]] and [[Nagaland]].
|-
|'''Zone-V'''
|[[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Telangana]].
|}

==== Old cadre allocation policies ====
Till 2008 there was no system of preference of state cadre by the candidates; the candidates, if not placed in the insider vacancy of their home states, were allotted to different states in alphabetical order of the roster, beginning with the letters A, H, M, T for that particular year. For example, if in a particular year the roster begins from 'A', which means the first candidate on the roster will go to the Andhra Pradesh state cadre of IPS, the next one to Bihar, and subsequently to Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and so on in alphabetical order.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://persmin.gov.in/AIS1/Docs/OldCadreAllocPolicy.pdf|title=Old Cadre allocation policy for All India Services – IAS/IPS/IFS|date=30 May 1985|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> The next year the roster starts from 'H', for either Haryana or Himachal Pradesh (if it has started from Haryana on the previous occasion when it all started from 'H', then this time it would start from Himachal Pradesh). This highly intricate system, in vogue since the mid-1980s, had ensured that officers from different states are placed all over India.

The system of permanent State cadres has also resulted in wide disparities in the kind of professional exposure for officers, when we compare officers in small and big and also developed and backward states.<ref name=":12" /> Changes of state cadre is permitted on grounds of marriage to an All India Service officer of another state cadre or under other exceptional circumstances. The officer may go to their home state cadre on deputation for a limited period, after which one has to invariably return to the cadre allotted to him or her.<ref name="book">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-wfGxBk09uAC&pg=RA1-PA325|title=Indian Administration (Vol. 2) (Educational Philosophy of Dr. Zakir Hussain)|last1=Ganihar|first1=N.|last2=Belagali|first2=Dr. H. V.|publisher=Global Vision Publishing House|year=2009|isbn=9788182202412|page=325|access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref>

From 2008 to 2017 IPS officers were allotted to State cadres at the beginning of their service. There was one cadre for each Indian state, except for two joint cadres: [[Assam]]–[[Meghalaya]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]]–[[Goa]]–[[Mizoram]]–[[Union Territory|Union Territories]] (AGMUT).<ref name="book" /> The "insider-outsider ratio" (ratio of officers who were posted in their home states) is maintained as 1:2, with one-third of the direct recruits as 'insiders' from the same state.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=http://persmin.gov.in/AIS1/Docs/CAP2009-P2.pdf|title=Revised Cadre Allocation Policy w.e.f. CSE-2009, dated 15.06.2011|date=15 June 2011|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> The rest were posted as outsiders according to the 'roster' in states other than their home states,<ref name=":02" /> as per their preference.

==Career progression==

===Pay structure of Indian Police Service===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Pay structure of the Indian Police Service<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/ips-officers-win-battle-head-central-police-forces-supreme-court-rules-in-favour/308043/ |title=IPS officers win battle to head central police forces as Supreme Court rules in their favour|date=18 October 2019 |newspaper=[[ThePrint]]|access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://document.ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02ser/14021_3_2016-AIS-II-23092016.pdf|title=The Indian Police Service (Pay) Rules, 2016|date=23 September 2016|website=Department of Personnel and Training, [[Government of India]]|access-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721151812/http://document.ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02ser/14021_3_2016-AIS-II-23092016.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="7 Pay Commission Report2"/>
|-
!Insignia
! Grade/level on pay matrix<ref name=":0"/><ref name="7 Pay Commission Report2">{{cite web|url=http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|title=Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India|publisher=Seventh Central [[Pay Commission]], [[Government of India]]|access-date=18 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120092637/http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|archive-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>
! Position in the state government(s)<ref name=":1"/>
! Other positions or designation in the state government(s) or the [[Government of India]] (GOI)<ref name=":1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.delhipolice.nic.in/acts/dpact.docx|title=The Delhi Police Act, 1978 (Act No. 34 of 1978)|date=27 August 1978|website=[[Delhi Police]]|access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref>
!Position in [[Indian order of precedence]]
! Basic salary (monthly)<ref name=":0" /><ref name="7 Pay Commission Report2"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Director General of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| rowspan="2" |Apex scale (pay level 17)
|{{Center|—}}
|[[Secretary to Government of India|Secretary]] ([[Research and Analysis Wing|R]]), [[Secretary to Government of India|Secretary]] ([[Special Protection Group|Security]]) in the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]].
|{{Center|23}}
| rowspan="2" |{{INRConvert|225|k|0}}
|-
| [[Director general of police|Director General of Police]]/[[Commissioner of Police]] <br> (Head of State Police Force)
|
* [[Director of the Intelligence Bureau|Director]] of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB)
* Director of [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI)
* Director-General of [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA)
* [[Commissioner of Police, Delhi|Commissioner of Police]] of [[Delhi Police|Delhi]]
* Director General of a [[Central Armed Police Forces]] (CAPF)
|{{Center|25}}
|-
|[[File:Director General of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
|HAG+ Scale (pay level 16)
| [[Director general of police|Director General of Police]]/[[Commissioner of Police]]
|
* Special Director General in [[Central Armed Police Forces|CAPFs]]
* Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs
* Special Secretary in [[Research and Analysis Wing]]
* Special Director in [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* Special Director in [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]
* Director of [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy]] (SVPNPA)
* Director General of [[Bureau of Police Research and Development]]
* Director General of [[Narcotics Control Bureau]]
| rowspan="8" |{{Center|—}}
|{{INRConvert|205.4|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|224.4|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Director General of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| HAG scale<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101073720/http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/IPS-Guid-190710.pdf Promotion to various grades – Amendment in the IPS promotion guidelines]. Indian Police Service. 19 July 2010</ref> (pay level 15)
| [[Additional director general of police|Additional Director General of Police]]/[[Joint Commissioner of Police]]
|
* Director of [[National Crime Records Bureau]]
* Special Commissioner of Police in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]], [[Kolkata Police|Kolkata]]
* Commissioner of Police (City Police Commissionerate)
* Additional Director General in [[National Investigation Agency|NIA]]
* Additional Director in [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* Additional Director in [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]
* Additional Director General in [[Central Armed Police Forces|CAPFs]].
| {{INRConvert|182.2|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|224.1|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Insignia of Inspector General of Police in India- 2013-10-02 16-14.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Senior administrative grade (pay level 14)
| [[Inspector general of police#India|Inspector General of Police]]/[[Additional  Commissioner of Police]]
|
* Joint Commissioner, city police, in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]], Gujarat, Maharashtra
* Additional Commissioner, city police, in [[Kolkata Police|Kolkata]], [[Greater Chennai Police|Chennai]], [[Bangalore City Police|Bangalore]]
* Commissioner of police (city police commissionerate)
* Inspector General in [[Central Armed Police Forces|CAPFs]]
* Inspector General in [[National Investigation Agency|NIA]]
* Joint Director in [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* Joint Director in [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]
* Joint Director in [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy|SVPNPA]].
| {{INRConvert|144.2|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|218.2|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Deputy Inspector General of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Super time scale (DIG/Conservator grade) (pay level 13A)
| [[Deputy inspector general of police#India|Deputy Inspector General of Police]]/[[Additional   Commissioner of Police]]
|
* Joint Commissioner, city police, in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]], Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan
* Joint Commissioner, city police, in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana
* Commissioner of police (city police commissionerate)
* Deputy inspector general in [[Central Armed Police Forces|CAPFs]]
* Deputy inspector general in [[National Investigation Agency|NIA]]
* Deputy Director in [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* Deputy Inspector General in [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]
* Deputy Director in [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy|SVPNPA]].
| {{INRConvert|131.1|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|216.6|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Senior Superintendent of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Selection grade (pay level 13)
|  [[Superintendent of police (India)|Senior Superintendent of Police]]/[[Deputy Commissioner of Police]] <br>(selection grade)
| Deputy commissioner of police in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]].
| {{INRConvert|118.5|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|214.1|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Superintendent of Police.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Junior administrative grade (pay level 12)
| [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police]]/[[Deputy Commissioner of Police]]
| Deputy commissioner of police in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]].
| {{INRConvert|78.8|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|191.5|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:Additional SP IPS.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Senior time scale (pay level 11)
| [[Additional superintendent of police|Additional Superintendent of Police]]/[[Deputy Commissioner of Police]]
| Additional deputy commissioner of police in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]].
| {{INRConvert|67.7|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|160|k|lk=on}}
|-
|[[File:DySP IPS.png|frameless|104x104px]]
| Junior time scale (pay level 10)
| [[Assistant Superintendent#India|Assistant Superintendent of Police]]/ <br> [[Assistant Superintendent#India|Deputy Superintendent of Police]]/[[Assistant Commissioner of Police]]
| Assistant commissioner of police in [[Delhi Police|Delhi]].
|{{INRConvert|56.1|k|lk=on}}—{{INRConvert|132|k|lk=on}}
|-

|}

===Ranks and insignia===
{{Main article|List of police ranks in India}}
Though the standard uniform colour is khaki,<ref name="Uniform_Col">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/open-space/Why-is-the-colour-of-the-Indian-police-uniform-khaki/articleshow/1719969.cms|title=Why is the colour of the Indian police uniform khaki?|last=Loiwal|first=Amit|date=3 March 2007|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref> the ranks, posts and designations of IPS officers vary from state to state as law and order is a [[State list in India|state matter]]. But generally the following pattern is observed.

====Ranks of IPS officers====
IPS officers are appointed on the basis of either [[Civil Services Examination|Civil Service Examination]] or promoted from the state police service cadre ''(state civil service officers)''. Vacancy in an IPS cadre are determined on the basis of vacancy on an Superintendent of Police rank. Consequently, there are two level of gradations for SP rank. These are level 11 and 12 as per the Seventh Pay Commission. Resultantly, IPS officers remain on the rank on SP till the 13th year after which they are eligible for being promoted as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). ASP rank is the junior most rank on an IPS state cadre. Consequently, fresh recruits to IPS are variously posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police in a supernumerary capacity (only for training purpose for two years and after that for 1 year) till they are formally placed as Superintendent of Police In-Charge of an area (when they get the pay of level 11 and level 12) and as district in charge (when they get the pay of level 12) (only in non-metropolitan districts). When the officers get promoted to the rank of SSP, some of them are posted as the district in-charge of metropolitan districts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mahapolice.gov.in/jsp/temp/html/policerank.pdf|title=Police Ranks|website=[[Maharashtra Police]]|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815030350/http://www.mahapolice.gov.in/jsp/temp/html/policerank.pdf|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keralapolice.org/kerala-police/about-us/governance|title=Governance of Kerala Police|website=[[Kerala Police]]|access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://odishapolice.gov.in/?q=node/199|title=Police Ranks and Badges|website=[[Odisha Police]]|access-date=15 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Director Intelligence Bureau's Insignia Equivalent to Armed Forces Generals">{{cite web|url=http://www.persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/AISRule/IPSRules/IPS(Uniform)Rules(Revised).htm#_ftnref21|title=Director, Intelligence Bureau's Insignia Equivalent to Armed Forces Generals|publisher=Government of India|access-date=27 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416223152/http://persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/AISRule/IPSRules/IPS(Uniform)Rules(Revised).htm#_ftnref21|archive-date=16 April 2009}}</ref>
{{Indian Police Service Officer Ranks}}

{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Car flags.jpg
| width1            = 195
| image2            = Car stars Police.jpg
| width2            = 195
| footer            = Flags (top photo) & Stars (bottom photo) on official cars of senior IPS officers, as per their rank.
| align             = 
| total_width       = 
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = 
| caption2          = 
}}

==Reform committees==
India's police continue to be governed by a [[British Raj|colonial]] police law passed in 1861{{clarify|date=April 2021}}. The [[Indian Constitution]] makes policing a [[States of India|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{{clarify|date=April 2021}}.

Repeated major incidents, (the latest being the [[2012 Delhi gang rape]]) revealed the failure of the police to uphold the [[rule of law]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_inept-delhi-cops-get-hc-rap_1780383|title=Inept Delhi cops get HC rap|date=21 December 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/two-acps-are-suspended/article4237103.ece|title=Two ACPs are suspended|date=25 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

The need for police reform in India has long been recognised. There have 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{{clarify|date=April 2021}}, while report after report gathers dust on government bookshelves without implementation. Many committees on police reform have recommended major reforms in the police system coupled with systematic [[accountability]].<ref name=VermaCommittee_22Jan2013>{{cite news|title=Failure of governance root cause of crimes against women: Verma committee|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/failure-of-governance-root-cause-of-crimes-against-women-verma-committee/article4336046.ece?homepage=true|access-date=23 January 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=VermaCommitteeHighlights_23Jan2013>{{cite news|title=Read: Highlights of Justice Verma Committee report|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/read-highlights-of-justice-verma-committee-report/317376-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127031941/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/read-highlights-of-justice-verma-committee-report/317376-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2013|access-date=23 January 2013|newspaper=CNNIBNLive|date=23 January 2013}}</ref>

=== National Police Commission (1977–81) ===
The 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.<ref name="PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org">{{cite web|title=PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org|url=http://www.liiofindia.org/in/cases/cen/INSC/2006/609.html|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>

=== Ribeiro Committee (1998–99) ===
{{See also|J. F. Ribeiro}}
In 1996, two former senior police officers filed a [[Public Interest Litigation]] (PIL) in the [[Supreme Court of India|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.<ref name="PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org"/><ref name="Ribeiro Committee">{{cite web|title=Ribeiro Committee|url=http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=91%3Ashiva&id=688%3Apolice-india-rebiero-committee&Itemid=100|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org"/><ref name="Padmanabhaiah Committee">{{cite web|title=Padmanabhaiah Committee|url=http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=91%3Ashiva&id=687%3Apolice-india-padmanabhai-committee&Itemid=100|access-date=12 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306225136/http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=91%3Ashiva&id=687%3Apolice-india-padmanabhai-committee&Itemid=100|archive-date=6 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Malimath Committee Report (2003) ===
{{See also|V. S. Malimath}}

The Malimath Committee Report submitted in March 2003 has very articulately laid down the foundation of a restructured and reoriented police system. 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 of India|Attorney General]]). The committee submitted a Model Police Act to the union government in late 2006.<ref name="PRAKASH SINGH Case at LIIofIndia.org"/>

=== Supreme Court intervention (2006) ===
In 1996, [[Prakash Singh]] (a former chief of [[Assam Police]] and [[Uttar Pradesh Police]] and subsequently 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<ref name="Prakash Singh Case">{{cite web|title=Prakash Singh Case|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1090328/|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref> ordered the state governments to implement several reforms in police force.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-openpage/seize-the-opportunity/article3225289.ece|title=Seize the opportunity|last=Prasad|first=Devika|date=5 November 2006|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 October 2017|author2=Caroline Avanzo}}</ref>

Several measures were identified as necessary to professionalise the police in India:

* A mid or high ranking police officer must not be transferred more frequently than every two years.
* The state government cannot ask the police force to hire someone, nor can they choose the [[Director general of police|Director General]] of the State Police.
* There must be separate departments and staff for investigation and patrolling,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/07001735/Sohrabbudins-encounter.html|title=Sohrabbudin's encounter|last=Strip|first=Mobius|date=7 May 2007|work=Live Mint|access-date=7 September 2017|publisher=[[HT Media Ltd]]|author2=Ramesh Ramanathan}}</ref> which will include the creation of:
** A ''State Security Commission'', for policies and direction
** A ''Police Establishment Board'', which will decide the selection, promotions and transfers of police officers and other staff
** A ''Police Complaints Authority'', to inquire into allegations of police misconduct.

====Follow-up from Supreme Court====
In 2006, due to a lack of action by all the state governments,<ref name="COMPLIANCE WITH SUPREME COURT DIRECTIVES">{{cite web|title=COMPLIANCE WITH SUPREME COURT DIRECTIVES|url=http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/aj/police/india/initiatives/chri_state_compliance_with_supreme_court_directives_chart.pdf|access-date=12 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306213845/http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/aj/police/india/initiatives/chri_state_compliance_with_supreme_court_directives_chart.pdf|archive-date=6 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] ordered the state governments to report to it why the reform measures outlined were not implemented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/aj/police/india/initiatives/writ_petition.htm|title=The Supreme Court of India takes the lead on police reform: Prakash Singh vs. Union of India|access-date=12 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925141524/http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/aj/police/india/initiatives/writ_petition.htm|archive-date=25 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> After being questioned in front of the judges of the [[Supreme Court of India|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.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sunrat|last=Das|title=Board to lend ears to transfer woes|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1070507/asp/frontpage/story_7741733.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024149/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070507/asp/frontpage/story_7741733.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2007|date=6 May 2007|access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref>

Again, in October 2012, a Supreme Court bench of [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] [[Altamas Kabir]] and justices [[Surinder Singh Nijjar]] and [[Jasti Chelameswar]] asked all state governments and [[Union territory|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.<ref name="SC asks states to file affidavit on police reforms">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/SC-asks-states-to-file-affidavit-on-police-reforms/Article1-945679.aspx|title=SC asks states to file affidavit on police reforms|date=16 October 2012|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017074052/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/SC-asks-states-to-file-affidavit-on-police-reforms/Article1-945679.aspx|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Major concerns and public debates ==
Due to the immense amount of power and responsibility that IPS officers hold, there are many issues that can arise when personal beliefs, desires, emotions, safety, and security are at play.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Qadri |first=Afzal |date=1994 |title=Police Corruption: An Analysis |journal=Indian Journal of Criminology |volume=22}}</ref>

=== Politicization ===
One of the primary concerns is the issue of politicization. The police force is often subject to political interference, which can undermine its independence and impartiality. Political pressure can influence the decision-making process, compromise investigations, and create a lack of trust in the police among the public. The ambition of the senior IPS officers to occupy posts of importance is a major contributory factor to the politicisation. The appointment of subordinate police officers is in the hands of their seniors. When the seniors surrender their authority by complying with requests from politicians, corruption increases and the investigation of crime in sensitive cases are based not on facts and law but on the wishes and interests of the politician in power.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dhingra |first1=Sanya |last2=ThePrint |date=2019-03-08 |title=How IPS has become the Indian Political Service |url=https://theprint.in/politics/how-ips-has-become-the-indian-political-service/202568/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-03-26 |title='Politicisation' of transfers |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/politicisation-of-transfers/articleshow/2900014.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-06-19 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Law Takes a Backseat as Police Officers Pander to Politicians, Parties |url=https://thewire.in/politics/a-decade-since-the-prakash-singh-verdict-what-ails-the-india-police-service |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=Politicisation of cases a concern for Karnataka police |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/politicisation-of-cases-a-concern-for-karnataka-police-101649875100808.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Politicisation of the Police |url=https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/politicisation-of-the-police/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Bangalore International Centre |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== Political interference ====
Members of one of the two most elite services in the country (the other being the Indian Administrative Service), IPS officers are arguably the most visible face of the government, overseeing law and order, investigation, internal and border security, and intelligence, among other functions. IPS officers often encounter political interference in their day-to-day functioning. Politicians may attempt to influence police investigations, transfers, and postings for their own interests or to fulfill political agendas. Such interference can undermine the impartiality and integrity of the police force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghavan |first=R. K. |date=2016-03-12 |title=Politician-Police Nexus: Appointments, Transfers Explain It All |url=https://www.thequint.com/opinion/politician-police-nexus-appointments-transfers-explain-it-all |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref>

=== Corruption ===
Some IPS officers have been accused public corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking and unjust use of power.<ref name="IPS 7 years">{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/this-ips-officer-spent-7-years-in-jail-before-he-busted-biggest-bribery-case/1/475981.html|title=This IPS officer spent 7 years in jail before he busted biggest bribery case|last=Parihar|first=Rohit|date=17 September 2015|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="IPS 13 years">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ips-officer-gets-13-year-jail-term-for-pilfering-seized-drug-1809954|title=IPS officer gets 13-year jail term for pilfering seized drug|date=11 March 2013|website=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="IPS vigilance">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Corruption-case-against-IPS-officer-5-held-by-Vigilance-Dept./article14396149.ece|title=Corruption case against IPS officer, 5 held by Vigilance Dept.|date=23 June 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="IPS fraud run">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/crime/booked-for-job-fraud-ips-officer-on-the-run/281795.html|title=Booked for job fraud, IPS officer on the run|last=Sood|first=Aman|date=18 August 2016|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="hotels">{{cite news |title=HC clears trial of officer who flew family around the world in Rs 1 lakh |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/cover-story/hc-clears-trial-of-officer-who-flew-family-around-the-world-in-rs-1-lakh/articleshow/22637083.cms |work=Mumbai Mirror |date=September 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="largescale">{{cite news |title=This Delhi cop is a 'corrupt crorepati' - 17 shell companies, 11 posh properties and much more |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/delhi-satyavir-katara-indian-police-service-dcp-licensing-income-tax/93206#:~:text=New%20Delhi%3A%20An%20Indian%20Police,department%20on%20September%2009%2C%202017. |work=Times Now |date=September 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="drugs">{{cite news |title=Punjab has a new enemy to fight in war on drugs: Punjab Police |url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/punjab-new-enemy-fight-war-drugs-punjab-police/26174/ |work=The Print |date=June 3, 2018}}</ref> There have been various instances of abuse of the public by officers.<ref name=":2" /> High-ranking officers often enjoy many luxuries for no cost.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Lamani |first=Ravikanth Babu |date=2013 |title=Police Corruption in India |url=https://ijcst.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/ijcst/article/view/37944 |journal=International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory |volume=6}}</ref> There is also opportunity to receive extra payment for doing specific tasks on the job.<ref name=":3" />

=== VIP Culture ===
VIP culture within the Indian Police Service (IPS) refers to a phenomenon where certain individuals, especially those holding positions of power or influence, receive preferential treatment or special privileges from the police force. This culture often results in the diversion of police resources and manpower towards catering to the needs and demands of these individuals, often at the expense of the general public.
VIP culture in India, including within the IPS, has been a subject of criticism and public debate for many years. It is seen as a reflection of the country's broader issue of social and political inequality. One manifestation of VIP culture within the IPS is the deployment of police personnel for personal security and escort duties even their personal needs for senior IPS officers. These personnel are often diverted from their regular law enforcement duties, which can affect the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the police force.  VIP culture also extends to the use of special privileges such as flashing red or blue beacons on vehicles, known as "lal batti," which signify authority and grant the right-of-way on the roads. The practice of using sirens and escort vehicles to navigate through traffic, often at high speeds, is another common aspect of VIP culture within the IPS. 
* Security - High-ranking IPS officials is provided with a significant security detail, which includes armed police personnel, vehicles, and sometimes even dedicated security units. This leads to the concentration of resources on protecting VIPs, sometimes at the expense of maintaining law and order in other areas. <ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/very-important-point-vip-security-needs-cops-with-spine-all-parties-politicise-protection-moose-walas-murder-shows-why-its-crucial-police-stand-up-to-netas/</ref>
===Misuse of Power===
There are lot of incidents were Misuse of Power by IPS officers in india. In a notable incident in Kochi, there was an alarming misuse of government vehicles and police personnel during the marriage ceremony of a IPS officer. This incident raised concerns as several government-owned vehicles, belonging to the Kerala police, were utilized as a shuttle service for the wedding festivities. Additionally, a number of police officers were deployed as valets to assist with carrying luggage and other items for the guests. This incident highlights a misuse of power and resources, which is a matter of great concern. Such actions not only demonstrate a disregard for proper usage of government assets but also raise questions regarding the principles of fairness and equality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=Keralakaumudi |title=IPS officer's wedding at government expense, official vehicles to transport guests, policemen to carry suitcases |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1006531&u=ips-officer%E2%80%99s-wedding-at-government-expense-official-vehicles-to-transport-guests-policemen-to-carry-suitcases-1006531 |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en}}</ref> <ref>https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/blatant-misuse-of-govt-vehicles-police-force-for-ips-officer-s-marriage-in-kochi-1.8306621</ref>

=== Extra-judicial killings, Custodial torture ===
In June 2023, an incident of alleged abuse of power by Tamil Nadu IPS officer Balveer Singh came to light, resulting in his suspension. Singh, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) from the 2020 batch, was accused of engaging in custodial torture at Ambasamudram police station in [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]] district.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=Tamil Nadu CM suspends cop accused of crushing testicles of suspects |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-ips-officer-accused-of-custodial-torture-suspended-cm-mk-stalin-101680077334008.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
The allegations against Singh included forcefully extracting the teeth of approximately ten individuals and repeatedly assaulting at least two of them in their genital areas while they were in custody.

=== Violence against women and sexual misconduct ===
Some IPS officers have been implicated in cases of domestic violence, assaulting women and sexual misconduct.<ref name="sharmamurder">{{cite news |title=Delhi Police appeal against RK Sharma's acquittal in Shivani Bhatnagar case |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-police-appeal-against-rk-sharmas-acquittal-in-shivani-bhatnagar-case-572479 |work=NDTV |date=January 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="daiji">{{cite news |title=Young IPS officer Amit Nigam accused of torturing wife 'like an animal' |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=590118 |work=Daijiworld |date=May 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="news1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ips-officer-accused-of-torturing-wife/1539310|title=IPS officer accused of torturing wife|website=Outlook (Magazine)}}</ref><ref name="kalson">{{cite news |title=Serial offender Haryana IGP, now caught hitting and abusing 2 women, 'could face dismissal' |url=https://theprint.in/india/serial-offender-haryana-igp-now-caught-hitting-and-abusing-2-women-could-face-dismissal/487835/ |work=The Print |date=August 23, 2020}}</ref><ref name="rivals">{{cite news |title=TEAM OF RIVALS: How the strange case of an alleged mole at the High Commission in Pakistan revealed a turf war between two of India's own intelligence agencies |url=https://krishnkaushik.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/team-of-rivals-how-the-strange-case-of-an-alleged-mole-at-the-high-commission-in-pakistan-revealed-a-turf-war-between-two-of-indias-own-intelligence-agencies/ |work=The Caravan |date=May 25, 2013}}</ref>

=== Mental health and suicide ===
IPS officers have complained of high levels of stress due to long work hours and unrealistic demands of political bosses. Retired Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh [[Vikram Singh (police officer)|Vikram Singh]] believes job discontent is a combination of "no holidays, lack of sleep, the sinking feeling of failure, public treatment of policemen with contempt, indifference of political bosses and almost no connect with superiors". Professional stress ruins personal lives and leads to martial discord. The inability to balance professional and personal lives has led some IPS officers to commit suicide.<ref name="nh">{{cite news |title=Uttar Pradesh: Suicides by 2 IPS officers in 5 months rattles police |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/uttar-pradesh-suicides-by-2-ips-officers-in-5-months-rattles-police |work=National Herald |date=September 11, 2018}}</ref>

=== Fake encounters ===
Some IPS officers have been convicted of [[Encounter killings by police|fake encounters]], a term for extrajudicial killings by the police supposedly in self-defence.<ref name="IPS MHA Bhajpur">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mha-terminates-services-of-ips-officer-connected-to-bhojpur-fake-encounter-4538744/|title=MHA terminates services of IPS officer connected to Bhojpur fake encounter|date=23 February 2017|website=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="IPS CBI IJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130221/jsp/frontpage/story_16588571.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304045218/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130221/jsp/frontpage/story_16588571.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2017|title=CBI arrests IPS officer in 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case|date=21 February 2013|website=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

=== IPS (Central) Association ===
In 2019, [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] said it never recognised or approved the formation<ref name="IPS Association" /> of IPS (Central) Association and the police force does not have the right to form any association without the permission of the federal [[Government of India]].<ref name="IPS Association">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/govt-questions-legality-of-ips-association-says-it-never-sanctioned-such-body/320529/|title=Govt questions legality of IPS Association, says it never sanctioned such a body|website=The Print|date=13 November 2019 |access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="IPS Association2">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/state-editions/ips-association-illegal-claims-activist.html|title=IPS Association illegal, claims activist|website=[[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]]|access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

==Women in the Indian Police Service==
In 1972, [[Kiran Bedi]] became the first woman Indian Police Service officer and was the only woman in a batch of 80 IPS Officers, she joined the AGMUT Cadre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/first-woman-ips-officer-kiran-bedi-seeks-voluntary-retirement/articleshow/2575478.cms|title=First woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi seeks voluntary retirement|date=27 November 2007|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref> She was followed by [[Jija Madhavan Harisingh]] in 1975, who became the first woman Indian Police Service officer from South-India (Karnataka cadre) and she remained in service for 36 years before retirement in 2011 as [[Director General of Police]] (DGP), and [[Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya]], the second woman IPS officer belonging to the 1973 Batch, becoming the first woman [[Director General of Police]] of a state in India when she was appointed DGP of [[Uttarakhand Police]].

In 1992, [[Asha Sinha]], a 1982 Batch IPS officer, became the first woman Commandant in the Paramilitary forces of India when she was posted as Commandant, [[Central Industrial Security Force]] in [[Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited]] and she remained in service for 34 years before retirement in 2016 as [[Director General of Police]] (DGP). In 2018, an IPS Officer [[Archana Ramasundaram]] of 1980 Batch became the first woman to become the director general of police of a [[Central Armed Police Forces|Central Armed Police Force]] as DG, [[Sashastra Seema Bal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=First ever woman chief of SSB retires; Rajni Kant Mishra takes charge|date=14 July 2018|work=Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/rajni-kant-mishra-takes-charge-as-ssb-dg/articleshow/60894141.cms}}</ref>

In 2021, Kalpana Saxena replaced [[Yogesh Pratap Singh|Yogesh Singh]] as the commandant of 47 battalion of PAC, Ghaziabad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/kanpur-and-agra-gets-new-ig-range-12-ips-officers-transferred-101635324336508.html|title = Kanpur and Agra gets new IG range, 12 IPS officers transferred|date = 27 October 2021}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->

*[[Ajit Doval]]
*[[R. N. Kao]]
*[[Prakash Singh]]
*[[Kiran Bedi]]
*[[KPS Gill]]
*[[Julio Francis Ribeiro]]
*[[Rakesh Maria]]
*[[H. T. Sangliana]]
*[[K. Vijay Kumar]]
*[[Amitabh Thakur]]
*[[Abhayanand]]
*[[Vibhuti Narain Rai]]
*[[Namo Narain Meena]]
*[[Kishore Kunal]]
*[[Jagmohan Yadav]]
*[[Sulkhan Singh]]
*[[Manoj Yadava]]
*[[Vipul Aggarwal]]
*[[Sukhmohinder Singh Sandhu]]
*[[Joginder Sharma]]
*[[Rahul Sharma (Gujarat police)]]
*[[Lalit Vijay Singh]]
*[[Yogesh Pratap Singh]]
*[[T.P.Senkumar]]
*[[ D Roopa]]
*[[Amit Lodha]]
*[[Navniet Sekera]]
*[[Laxmi Singh]]
*[[R. Sreelekha]]

==See also==

* [[Commissioner of Police (India)|Commissioner of Police]]
* [[National Police Memorial India]]
* [[State Police Services (India)|Indian State Police Services]]
* [[Law enforcement in India]]
* [[List of cases of police brutality in India]]
* [[Civil Services of India]]
* [[All India Service]]
* [[Special Duty Allowance (SDA)]]
* [[Union Public Service Commission]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* ''History of services of Indian police service, as on 1 July 1966'', by Ministry of Home Affairs, India. Published by Govt. of India, 1969.
* ''The peace keepers: Indian Police Service (IPS)'', by S. R. Arun, IPS, DGP Uttar Pradesh. Published by Berghahn Books, 2000. {{ISBN|978-81-7049-107-1}}.
*''The Indian Police Journal (IPJ)'', by [[Bureau of Police Research and Development]], Ministry of Home Affairs. Published by Govt. of India, October–December 2009 Vol.LVI-No.4. {{ISSN|0537-2429}}.
* ''History of services of Indian police service, as on 1 July 1966'', by Ministry of Home Affairs, India. Published by Govt. of India, 1969.

==External links==

<!-- Please do not add any commercial links here and please don't add any invalid links to avoid delay in user search-->
* [http://www.svpnpa.gov.in/ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy]
* {{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=12347|title=Shortage of IPS officers|publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230121901/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=123479|archive-date=30 December 2016|url-status=dead}}

{{Home Ministry (India)}}
{{Public Services of India}}
{{Civil service}}
{{Life in India}}
{{Law enforcement in India}}
{{Indian intelligence agencies}}
{{Asia topic|Law enforcement in}}
{{Indian civil servants}}

[[Category:Indian police officers|*]]
[[Category:All India Services]]
[[Category:Federal law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Union Public Service Commission]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1905]]