Indian Police Service
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The Indian Police Service (IPS) is a
civil service The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil service personnel hired rather than elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leadership. A civil service offic ...
under the
All India Services The All India Services (AIS) comprises three Civil Services of India common to the centre and state governments, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). ...
. It replaced the
Indian Imperial Police The Indian Imperial Police, referred to variously as the Indian Police or, by 1905, the Imperial Police, was part of the Indian Police Services, the uniform system of police administration in British India, as established by Government of India Ac ...
in 1948, a year after India became
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
from the
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. Along with the
Indian Administrative Service The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the Public administration, administrative arm of the All India Services of Government of India. The IAS is one of the three All India Services along with the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian ...
(IAS) and the
Indian Forest Service The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is the premier forest service of India. .The IFS is one of the three All India Services along with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) & the Indian Police Service (IPS). It was constituted in the year 1966 un ...
(IFS), the IPS is part of the
All India Services The All India Services (AIS) comprises three Civil Services of India common to the centre and state governments, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). ...
– its officers are employed by both the
Union Government The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territor ...
and by individual
states State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
. The service provides leadership to various state and central police forces, including the
Central Armed Police Forces The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) consist of seven armed police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, tasked with maintaining internal security, law and order, counterinsurgency, and protecting borde ...
( BSF, SSB, CRPF,
CISF The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary mission is to provide security to large institutions, be it state or privately-owned. It was set up unde ...
, and
ITBP The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India’s border with Tibet . It was formed in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Hi ...
), the
National Security Guard The National Security Guard (NSG) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the primary counter-terrorism force of the Government of India. It was founded on 16 October 1984, following Operation Blue ...
(NSG),
Narcotics Control Bureau The Narcotics Control Bureau ( NCB) is an Indian central law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The agency is tasked with combating drug trafficking and the use of illegal substances ...
(NCB),
National Disaster Response Force The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a specialized force in India, tasked with the responsibility of responding to natural disasters, natural and man-made disasters. It operates under the National Disaster Management Authority (India) ...
(NDRF), Intelligence Bureau (IB),
Research and Analysis Wing The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is the foreign intelligence agency of the Republic of India. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, advising Indian policymakers, and a ...
(R&AW),
Special Protection Group The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency under the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, whose sole responsibility is protecting the Prime Minister of India and, in some cases, their family. It was formed in 1988 by an Act of ...
(SPG),
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(NIA), and the
Central Bureau of Investigation The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the domestic crime investigating agency of India. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Originally set up to investigate bribery and gover ...
(CBI).


History


Indian Imperial Police

In 1861, the
Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...
introduced the ''Indian Councils Act, 1861''. The act created the foundation of a modern and professional police bureaucracy in India. It introduced a new cadre of police, called Superior Police Services, later known as the
Indian Imperial Police The Indian Imperial Police, referred to variously as the Indian Police or, by 1905, the Imperial Police, was part of the Indian Police Services, the uniform system of police administration in British India, as established by Government of India Ac ...
. The highest rank in the service was the inspector general for each province. The rank of inspector general was equated to that of a
brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
, and similar ranks in the
Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces are the armed forces, military forces of the India, Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Ar ...
, as per a central warrant of precedence issued in 1937. In 1902–1903, a police commission was established to recommend reforms under
Sir Andrew Fraser Sir Andrew Henderson Leith Fraser (14 November 1848 – 26 February 1919) was a British officer of the Indian Civil Service and the List of governors of Bengal Presidency#Lieutenant Governors of Bengal (1854–1912), Lieutenant Governor o ...
and
Lord Curzon George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), known as Lord Curzon (), was a British statesman, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician, explorer and writer who served as Viceroy of India ...
. It recommended the appointment of Indians as officers in the police. Previously, Indians could rise only to the rank of an inspector, the senior N.C.O. position. However they were not part of the
Indian Imperial Police The Indian Imperial Police, referred to variously as the Indian Police or, by 1905, the Imperial Police, was part of the Indian Police Services, the uniform system of police administration in British India, as established by Government of India Ac ...
. From 1920 onward, the Indian Imperial Police was open to Indians and the entrance examination for the service was conducted both in India and England. 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 admittance to the service was held in England in June 1893 and the ten top candidates were appointed as probationers in the
Indian Imperial Police The Indian Imperial Police, referred to variously as the Indian Police or, by 1905, the Imperial Police, was part of the Indian Police Services, the uniform system of police administration in British India, as established by Government of India Ac ...
. It is not possible to identify an exact date for when the Indian Police Service came formally into being. Around 1907, the secretary of state's officers were directed to wear the letters "IP" on their
epaulette Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''shoulder scale ...
s in order to distinguish them from other officers not recruited by the secretary through examination. Therefore, 1907 could be regarded as the starting point for the IPS. In 1948, a year after India gained independence; the Imperial Police was formally replaced by the Indian Police Service.


Indian Police Service

The Indian Police Service was created under ''Article 312(2), XIV of the
Constitution of India The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India, legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures ...
.'' As per media reports, there is a massive shortage of IPS officers in India, amounting to nearly 19% to 22% of the sanctioned strength.


Medals and decorations

Despite having a very small cadre strength, many IPS officers have been awarded the highest gallantry awards (Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra). The current national security advisor of India, Ajit Doval, was an IPS officer who earned the Kirti Chakra for his gallant actions during operation Black Thunder. Though generally deployed in supervisory roles at senior levels, it is not uncommon for IPS officers to be in the field taking active part in maintaining law and order. IPS officers have been posted to various UN Missions and several have been awarded the
United Nations Medal A United Nations Medal is an international decoration awarded by the United Nations (UN) to the various world countries members for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, a ...
. Many exceptional IPS officers have been awarded with Padma awards from time to time.


Objective

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
governmental department Ministry or department (also less commonly used secretariat, office, or directorate) are designations used by first-level executive bodies in the machinery of governments that manage a specific sector of public administration." Энцикло ...
to enforce the law, maintain order and to detect and prevent crime across the region. The Indian Police Service is not a force but a service providing leaders and commanders to staff the state police and all-India
Central Armed Police Forces The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) consist of seven armed police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, tasked with maintaining internal security, law and order, counterinsurgency, and protecting borde ...
. Its members are the senior officers of the police. With time Indian Police Service's objectives were updated and redefined, the current roles and functions of an Indian Police Service officer are as follows: * 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, VIP
security Security is protection from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercion). Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, or any other entity or ...
,
counterterrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and Intelligence agency, intelligence ...
, border policing, railway policing, tackling
smuggling Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations. More broadly, soc ...
, drug trafficking, economic offenses, corruption in
public life Public life may refer to: * Politics * '' Public Life'', a 1984 album by Eddie Schwartz * '' Public Life with Randy David'', a Filipino public affairs program See also * Social life (disambiguation) * Public relations * * * * * * * Pub ...
,
emergency management Emergency management (also Disaster management) is a science and a system charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actu ...
, enforcement of
socioeconomics Economic sociology is the study of the social cause and effect of various economic phenomena. The field can be broadly divided into a classical period and a contemporary one, known as "new economic sociology". The classical period was concerned ...
legislation,
biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
and protection of
environmental law Environmental laws are laws that protect the environment. The term "environmental law" encompasses treaties, statutes, regulations, conventions, and policies designed to protect the natural environment and manage the impact of human activitie ...
s, etc. * Leading and commanding the
Indian Intelligence Agencies Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
like
Research and Analysis Wing The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is the foreign intelligence agency of the Republic of India. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, advising Indian policymakers, and a ...
(R&AW), Intelligence Bureau (IB),
Central Bureau of Investigation The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the domestic crime investigating agency of India. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Originally set up to investigate bribery and gover ...
(CBI),
Criminal Investigation Department The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of a police force to which most plainclothes criminal investigation, detectives belong in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth nations. A force's CID is disti ...
(CID) etc., Indian Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, Civil and Armed Police Forces in all the states and union territories. * Led and commanded various
Central Armed Police Forces The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) consist of seven armed police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, tasked with maintaining internal security, law and order, counterinsurgency, and protecting borde ...
(CAPF) which include the Central Police Organisations (CPO) such as
Border Security Force The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was formed in the wake of the Indo-Pak War of 196 ...
(BSF),
Central Reserve Police Force The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CRPF assists states and Union Territories in maintaining law and order and internal security. It is composed of the Cent ...
(CRPF),
Indo-Tibetan Border Police The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is a Central Armed Police Forces, central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding Border guard, India’s border with ...
(ITBP),
National Security Guard The National Security Guard (NSG) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the primary counter-terrorism force of the Government of India. It was founded on 16 October 1984, following Operation Blue ...
(NSG),
Central Industrial Security Force The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary mission is to provide security to large institutions, be it state or privately-owned. It was set up unde ...
(CISF), Vigilance Organisations and Indian Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. * To lead and
command Command may refer to: Computing * Command (computing), a statement in a computer language * command (Unix), a Unix command * COMMAND.COM, the default operating system shell and command-line interpreter for DOS * Command key, a modifier key on A ...
the force with
courage Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
, uprightness, dedication and a strong sense of
service Service may refer to: Activities * Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty * Civil service, the body of employees of a government * Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a ...
to the people. * Endeavor to teach in the
police forces The police are a constituted body of people empowered by a state with the aim of enforcing the law and protecting the public order as well as the public itself. This commonly includes ensuring the safety, health, and possessions of citize ...
under their command such values and norms as would help them serve the people better. * Inculcate integrity of the highest order, sensitivity to people's aspirations in a fast-changing social and economic milieu, respect for human rights, the broad liberal perspective of law and
justice In its broadest sense, justice is the idea that individuals should be treated fairly. According to the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the most plausible candidate for a core definition comes from the ''Institutes (Justinian), Inst ...
, and a high standard of professionalism.


Selection

IPS officers are recruited from
Civil Services Examination The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a standardized test in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to higher Civil Services of India, civil services in the Government of India, such as the All India Service ...
conducted by UPSC. They are also promoted from
State Police Services The State Police Services (SPS) is an umbrella term for police services under different state governments in India. In India, police is a state subject and each state has its own police service. For example, Maharashtra Police Service (MPS) for M ...
and DANIPS. However, at present, recruitment from Limited Competitive Examination has been put on hold.


Training

The training of IPS officer recruits is conducted at
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) is the civil service training institution in India. The institute trains Indian Police Service (IPS) officers before they are sent to their respective state cadres to carry out their dut ...
in
Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
. The authorized cadre strength of the Indian Police Service is 4920. (3270 Direct Recruitment Posts and 1650 Promotional Posts). The Civil List of IPS officers is an updated (annual) list maintained by the
Ministry of Home Affairs An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the i ...
, Government of India that lists the posting details of all IPS officers in India. This Civil List can be accessed from the MHA website. It allows searching for an IPS officer based on their name, batch, or cadre. After completion of almost 2 years of training, IPS probationers are awarded a master's degree in criminal justice management from NALSAR University of Law.


State cadres


Cadre allocation policy

The
Union Government The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territor ...
announced a new cadre allocation policy for the
All India Services The All India Services (AIS) comprises three Civil Services of India common to the centre and state governments, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). ...
in August 2017, touting it as a policy to ensure national integration of the bureaucracy as officers and ensure the 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 The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
. Under the new policy, a candidate has to first give their choice in the descending order of preference from amongst the various Zones. Subsequently, the candidate has to indicate one preference of cadre from each preferred zone. 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. The preference for the zones/cadres remains in the same order and no change is permitted. Officers continue to work in the cadre they are allotted or are deputed to the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
.


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. 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 were 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. Changes of state cadre are 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. 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 Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
Meghalaya Meghalaya (; "the abode of clouds") is a states and union territories of India, state in northeast India. Its capital is Shillong. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the Assam: the United Khasi Hills an ...
and
Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeast India. It was formed from the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and India declared it as a state on 20 February 1987. Itanagar is its capital and la ...
Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...
Mizoram Mizoram is a states and union territories of India, state in northeastern India, with Aizawl as its Capital city, capital and largest city. It shares 722-kilometres (449 miles) of international borders with Bangladesh to the west, and Myanmar t ...
Union Territories Among the states and union territories of India, a Union Territory (UT) is a region that is directly governed by the central government of India, as opposed to the states, which have their own state government systems. Unlike states, Union Ter ...
(AGMUT). 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. The rest were posted as outsiders according to the 'roster' in states other than their home states, as per their preference.


Career progression


Pay structure of Indian Police Service


Ranks and insignia

Though the standard uniform colour is khaki, the ranks, posts and designations of IPS officers vary from state to state as law and order is a
federalism in India The Constitution of India establishes the structure of the Indian government, including the relationship between the federal government and state governments. Part XI of the Indian constitution specifies the distribution of legislative, admin ...
. But generally the following pattern is observed.


IPS officers Ranks

IPS officers are appointed on the basis of either
Civil Service Examination Civil service examinations are examinations implemented in various countries for recruitment and admission to the civil service. They are intended as a method to achieve an effective, rational public administration on a merit system for recruiti ...
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.


Reform committees

India's police continue to be governed by a colonial police law passed in 1861. The
Indian Constitution The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and ...
makes policing a 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. Repeated major incidents, like the
2012 Delhi gang rape and murder The 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, commonly known as the Nirbhaya case, involved the gang rape and fatal assault that occurred on 16 December 2012 in Munirka, a neighbourhood in South Delhi district, South Delhi. The incident took place whe ...
, 2020 Hathras gang rape and murder, as well as terrorist attacks such as the
2008 Mumbai attacks The 2008 Mumbai attacks, also referred to as 26/11 attacks, were a series of coordinated Islamic terrorism, Islamist terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist o ...
revealed the failure of the police to uphold the
rule of law The essence of the rule of law is that all people and institutions within a Body politic, political body are subject to the same laws. This concept is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Acco ...
. 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, 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 In ethics and governance, accountability is equated with answerability, culpability, liability, and the expectation of account-giving. As in an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the public secto ...
.


National Police Commission (1977–81)

The National Police Commission was the first committee set up by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
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.


Ribeiro Committee (1998–99)

In 1996, two former senior police officers filed a
Public interest litigation The chief instrument through which judicial activism has flourished in India is public interest litigation (PIL) or social action litigation (SAL). It refers to litigation undertaken to secure public interest and demonstrates the availability ...
(PIL) in the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
, 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 Julio Ribeiro, a former chief of police, sat over 1998 and 1999, and produced two reports.


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.


Malimath Committee Report (2003)

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)

In 2005, the government put together a group to draft a new police act for India. It was headed by
Soli Sorabjee Soli Jehangir Sorabjee, AM (9 March 193030 April 2021) was an Indian jurist who served as Attorney-General for India from 1989 to 1990, and again from 1998 to 2004. In 2002, he received the Padma Vibhushan for his defence of the freedom of ex ...
(former
attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
). The committee submitted a Model Police Act to the union government in late 2006.


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 The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was formed in the wake of the Indo-Pak War of 196 ...
) initiated a
Public Interest Litigation The chief instrument through which judicial activism has flourished in India is public interest litigation (PIL) or social action litigation (SAL). It refers to litigation undertaken to secure public interest and demonstrates the availability ...
(PIL) in the
Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court of India is the supreme judiciary of India, judicial authority and the supreme court, highest court of the Republic of India. It is the final Appellate court, court of appeal for all civil and criminal cases in India. It also ...
, 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
Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal (14 January 1942 – 3 July 2015) was the 36th Chief Justice of India. Career Sabharwal worked as an advocate for Indian Railways from 1969 to 1981, as an advocate for Delhi administration from 1973 to 1976–1977, late ...
, Justice C. K. Thakker and Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan ordered the state governments to implement several reforms in police force. 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 A director general, general director or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''general directors'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'') is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer ...
of the State Police. * There must be separate departments and staff for investigation and patrolling, 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, the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
ordered the state governments to report to it why the reform measures outlined were not implemented. After being questioned in front of the judges of the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
, the state governments finally started to reform the police forces and give them the operational independence they need for fearless and proper law enforcement.
Tamil Nadu Police Tamil Nadu Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is over 150 years old and is the fifth largest state police force in India.
has been in the forefront of application of the new referendum. Again, in October 2012, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice
Altamas Kabir Altamas Kabir (19 July 1948 – 19 February 2017) was an Indian lawyer and judge who served as the 39th Chief Justice of India. Early life and education Altamas Kabir was born in Calcutta in 1948, to a Bengali Muslim family from the district o ...
and justices S. S. Nijjar and
Jasti Chelameswar Jasti Chelameswar (born 23 June 1953) is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. He retired on 22 June 2018 as the second most senior supreme court judge. He previously served as the chief justice of the Kerala High Court from 2010 to 201 ...
asked all state governments and
Union territories Among the states and union territories of India, a Union Territory (UT) is a region that is directly governed by the central government of India, as opposed to the states, which have their own state government systems. Unlike states, Union Ter ...
to inform about compliance of its September 2006 judgement. The order was passed when Prakash Singh through his lawyer
Prashant Bhushan Prashant Bhushan (born 15 October 1956) is an Indian author and a public interest lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. He was a member of the faction of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement known as Team Anna which supported Anna Ha ...
said that many of the reforms (ordered by the Supreme Court) have yet not been implemented by many state governments.


Major concerns and public debates

Due to the immense amount of power and responsibility that IPS officers hold, many issues occur when personal beliefs, desires, emotions, safety, and security are at play.


Politicization & political interference

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 politicization. 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 is based not on facts and law but on the wishes and interests of the politician in power. 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 interests or to fulfill political agendas. Such interference can undermine the impartiality and integrity of the police force. Despite demands from the citizens, political leaders in power have often ignored in implementing police reforms, which often allows leadership to influence investigations, especially on cases against them. The Police Act of 1861, which is still in use, has not been replaced despite protests and demands, as the colonial era Police Law allows political interference in law enforcement and investigations, along with targeting opposing leaders and citizens who criticize or protest against them.


Corruption

Some IPS officers have been accused of public corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, and unjust use of power. There have been various instances of abuse of the public by officers. High-ranking officers often enjoy many luxuries for no cost. There is also opportunity to receive extra payment for doing specific tasks on the job.


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 are 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.


Abuse of Power

There are a 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 an 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, some 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 the proper usage of government assets but also raise questions regarding the principles of fairness and equality.


Custodial torture and Extra-judicial killings

In June 2023, an incident of alleged abuse of power by a
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
IPS officer came to light, resulting in his suspension. an
assistant superintendent of police Assistant superintendent, or assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is a rank that was used by police forces in the British Empire and is still used in many police forces in the Commonwealth. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held b ...
(ASP) from the Tamil Nadu cadre, was accused of engaging in custodial torture at Ambasamudram police station in Tirunelveli district. The allegations against the IPS officer 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.


Fake encounters

Some IPS officers have been convicted of fake encounters, a term for extrajudicial killings by the police supposedly in self-defense.


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 believes job discontent is a combination of "no holidays, lack of sleep, the sinking feeling of failure, public treatment of policemen with contempt, the indifference of political bosses and almost no connect with superiors". Professional stress ruins personal lives and leads to marital discord. The inability to balance professional and personal lives has led some IPS officers to commit suicide.


Moral Policing

The Indian Police Service officials have been criticized for acts of moral policing. Using sections 292 to 294 of the
Indian Penal Code The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was the official criminal code of the Republic of India, inherited from British India after independence. It remained in force until it was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in December 2023 ...
which are used to deal with obscenity, Police officers have often harassed citizens for several incidents such as celebrating Valentine's Day, indulging in Public Displays of Affection, and arresting consenting couples in private places. Following increasing incidents of such misconducts, the Supreme Court passed an order nationwide in December 2022 to all Police Departments to stop moral policing.


IPS (Central) Association

In 2019,
Ministry of Home Affairs An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the i ...
said it never recognized or approved the formation 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 The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
.


Entry reforms and Promotions

The entry for the Police Service in India has been made up of 4 levels - constables, sub-inspectors, state service DSPs, and IPS. This has caused disunity in the force, with constables being treated as slaves or personal servants for senior officers. This type of police system has been severely criticized by several current and retired police officials, demanding a single entry into the force from constable, which has met resistance from other officials and political establishment. Although the Indian Police Service norms mandate both merit-based and time-in-service promotion, even for the constable and inspector rank officers, it is not duly followed or implemented. This has caused constables to remain constables till retirement. Despite the norms, bureaucratic inefficiencies as well as nepotism prevent low-ranking officers from getting promotions, even if they get a pay raise to the next rank.


Low training standards and personnel shortage

As of March 2023, India has a police-to-population of 153 personnel per 100,000 citizens, which is less than the sanctioned strength of 196 personnel, as well as way below the United Nations minimum requirement of 222 personnel per 100,000 citizens. The training has also fallen short of world standards, with the shortage of personnel causing investigations to suffer. These issues were previously noted in the aftermath of the 2008 terrorist attacks in
Jaipur Jaipur (; , ) is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, largest city of the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had ...
,
Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...
, and
Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ), also spelled Amdavad (), is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 ...
.


Overworking and underpaid

The Indian Police Service has often faced the issues of being overworked, as well as underpaid. The 7th Pay Commission mandated a pay of Rs. 21,700 per month for constables, with the Director-General of Police having a pay of Rs. 225,000 per month. The pay for constables and inspector-ranked officers varies from state to state. Due to a lack of shift system, many officers, especially the constable ranks were forced to work for more than 24 hours at a stretch, with no overtime pay. This affects the quality of the investigation as well as the morale of the officials on duty. Furthermore, the constabulary also does not get decent housing or any allowances for reasonable accommodation. In May 2022, the
Mumbai Police The Greater Mumbai Police (Marathi language, Marathi: बृहन्मुंबई पोलीस, IAST: ''Brihanmumbaī Pulīs'', formerly ''Bombay City Police'') is the Police, police department of the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a cit ...
implemented an 8-hour shift system for the constable rank officers and assistant sub-inspectors, and 16 hours of rest. Following a lawsuit by a constable of the
Delhi Police The Delhi Police (DP) is the law enforcement agency for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi Police falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. In 2024, the sanctioned strength of Delhi Police w ...
for demanding fixed working hours, proper housing, and reasonable pay in 2015, the
Delhi High Court The High Court of Delhi ( Hindustani: दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय; ''dillī uchcha nyāyālaya'') is the high court in Delhi, India. It was established on 31 October 1966, through the ''Delhi High Court Act, 1966. ...
ordered senior officers of implementing better working conditions for constables in May 2023.


Violence against women and sexual misconduct

Some IPS officers have been implicated in cases of domestic violence, assaulting women, and sexual misconduct.


Women in the Indian Police Service

In 1972,
Kiran Bedi Kiran Bedi (born 9 June 1949) is a former tennis player who became the first woman in India to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972 and was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from 28 May 2016 to 16 Februa ...
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. 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 Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya (c. 1947 - 26 August 2019) was the second woman officer in Indian Police Service (IPS) in India, the first being Kiran Bedi. A 1973 batch IPS officer, she was the first woman to become Director General of Police ...
, 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 The Uttarakhand Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Uttarakhand in India. It was formed in 2000. Uttarakhand Police Constable Notification 2024: The Uttarakhand Subordinate Selection Commission (UKSSSC) has published an offi ...
. 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 The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary mission is to provide security to large institutions, be it state or privately-owned. It was set up unde ...
in Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and she remained in service for 34 years before retirement in 2016 as the 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 Force as DG,
Sashastra Seema Bal The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB; ) is a Central Armed Police Forces, central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding Border guard, India’s borders with Indi ...
. In 2021, Kalpana Saxena replaced Yogesh Singh as the commandant of 47 battalion of PAC, Ghaziabad. In 2023, Nina Singh became the director general of the
Central Industrial Security Force The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary mission is to provide security to large institutions, be it state or privately-owned. It was set up unde ...
.


Notable people

*
Ajit Doval Ajit Kumar Doval, Kirti Chakra, KC (born 20 January 1945) is an Indian bureaucrat and spymaster, who is currently serving as the National Security Advisor of India since 2014. A retired Indian Police Service officer of the Kerala cadre, he had p ...
* R. N. Kao * Rajinder Khanna * Prakash Singh *
Kiran Bedi Kiran Bedi (born 9 June 1949) is a former tennis player who became the first woman in India to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972 and was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from 28 May 2016 to 16 Februa ...
*
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill Kanwar Pal Singh Gill (29 December 1934 – 26 May 2017) was an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. He served twice as DGP for the state of Punjab, India, Punjab, India, where he is credited with having brought the Punjab insurgency under con ...
* Julio Ribeiro * Bhupendra Yadav * Rakesh Maria * H. T. Sangliana * K. Vijay Kumar * Masud Choudhary *
Amitabh Thakur Amitabh Thakur is an ex-Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and a political activist. He was given compulsory retirement in March 2021. During service, Amitabh was known for his strict adherence to rules and regulations as well as for his work ...
* Abhayanand * Vibhuti Narain Rai * Namo Narain Meena *
Kishore Kunal Kishore Kunal (10 August 1950 – 29 December 2024), also known as Acharya Kunal, was a 1972 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Gujarat Cadre, from the state of Bihar, India. During his police career, he was appointed as the Officer o ...
* Jagmohan Yadav * C. Sylendra Babu * Sulkhan Singh * Manoj Yadava * Vipul Aggarwal * Sukhmohinder Singh Sandhu * V. Joseph Thomas * Rahul Sharma * Lalit Vijay Singh * Yogesh Pratap Singh * T. P. Senkumar * Rishiraj Singh * P. Vijayan * Dr Alexander Jacob *
Jacob Punnoose Jacob Punnoose was the Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala and the State Police Chief. He retired on 31 August 2012 after serving more than 35 years in the Indian Police Service and in Kerala Police. He was succeeded by Sri K.S.Balasubram ...
*
Hormis Tharakan P. K. Hormis Tharakan is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre (1968 batch) who served as the Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, from 1 February 2005 to 31 Januar ...
*
Lalduhoma Lalduhoma (alternatively spelled Lalduhawma; born 22 February 1949) is an Indian politician who serves as the 6th Chief Minister of Mizoram since 8 December 2023. Formerly an Indian Police Service officer, he resigned from the security service ...
* Abdul Sathar Kunju * D. Roopa * Amit Lodha * Navniet Sekera * Laxmi Singh * R. Sreelekha * Gaurav Yadav * Nina Singh * Anish Dayal Singh *
Shankar Bidari Shankar Mahadev Bidari is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who was the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DGP) of the state of Karnataka. An Indian Police Service officer of the 1978 cohort, he was the Police Commissioner ...
* Manoj Kumar Sharma


See also

*
Commissioner of Police A police commissioner is the head of a police department, responsible for overseeing its operations and ensuring the effective enforcement of laws and maintenance of public order. They develop and implement policies, manage budgets, and coordinate ...
* National Police Memorial India * State Police Services India *
Law enforcement in India Law enforcement in India is imperative to keep law and Law and order (politics), order in the nation. Law of India, Indian law is enforced by a number of Law enforcement agency, agencies. India has a multi-layered law enforcement structure wi ...
* List of cases of police brutality in India *
Civil Services of India In India, the Civil Service is the collection of civil servants of the government who constitute the permanent executive branch of the country. This includes servants in the All India Services, the Central Civil Services, and various State Ci ...
*
All India Services The All India Services (AIS) comprises three Civil Services of India common to the centre and state governments, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). ...
* Special Duty Allowance *
Union Public Service Commission The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is a constitutional body tasked with recruiting officers for All India Services and the Central Civil Services (Group A and B) through various standardized examinations. In 2023, 1.3 million applica ...


Notes


References


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. . *''The Indian Police Journal (IPJ)'', by
Bureau of Police Research and Development The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) was set up on the 28 August 1970 to further the objectives of the Government of India regarding the modernisation of Indian Police Service, police forces. It has since evolved into a multi ...
, Ministry of Home Affairs. Published by Govt. of India, October–December 2009 Vol.LVI-No.4. . * ''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


Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy
* {{Indian civil servants * All India Services Federal law enforcement agencies of India Union Public Service Commission 1905 establishments in India Government agencies established in 1905