Career as a Police Officer: Know Everything About It

We all have played one game in our childhood of police and thief. How many of you became the police in this game? How many of you thought it seriously even when you grow old? If you want to serve the nation through maintaining law and order, the Police force is one of the most interesting and righteous careers for you.

As a police officer, it will be your duty to maintain law and order in your city, district or any other jurisdiction. You will work to solve all criminal cases, assist poor and needy people, curb crimes, maintain harmony, catch criminals, stop murders, rapes, etc., manage traffic, manage events and festivities, impose curfew (when required), file cases (through FIR), solve crime cases and assist other law and order agencies like CBI, RAW, Intel, etc.  As a police officer, you will be given several other tasks like handling crowd in crowded gatherings, providing safety to people, protecting and guarding VIPs, etc.

Why become a Police Officer?

As a Police Officer, you will work primarily to ensure the safety and security of the public at large, individuals and properties by enforcing the law and order in your area of operations. You will maintain peace and law and order by preventing and investigating illegal activities and crimes. As a Police Officer, you will work either under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of India or under the Government of the respective States. Thus, you may serve the central or a state government. You will work at the central level as an IPS (Indian Police Services) officer (you will deputed to a State or to Central Armed Police Forces such as CRPF, CISF, and BSF) and as a state police officer at state level.

As an IPS officer you may lead and command the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) such as Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) etc. and Indian Intelligence Agencies such as Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) etc. in all states and union territories. You will also serve State and City Police Forces in leadership positions, as part of the IPS cadre posted in various States across India.

A State Police Officer recruited by a State Government is confined to the recruiting State only. Sometimes, you would work along with Indian Armies. In general, State Police Offices serve under IPS Officers. Some of the State Police Officers may get promoted to ranks equivalent to those of an IPS officer.

What does a Police Officer do?

As a police officer, you would be responsible for performing the following roles and responsibilities:

• As a police officer, your primary role is to make sure that people are following all the rules and orders enforced by law on them.
• You will be responsible for the detection and investigation of crime and criminals.
• You will ensure the safety and protection of people from corruption, human trafficking, traffic measures etc.
• You would coordinate the operations in an emergency or disaster situation.
• As a police officer, you would provide security cover to the VIPs, Government Officers, Chief Ministers, Prime Ministers etc.
• You will conduct patrolling of areas for the safety of the people from criminals in the area assigned to you.
• If there will be any criminal scene, you will conduct and collect the evidences, file the complaint, prepare the detailed reports, obtain warrants and arrest the suspect.
• You will interrogate arrested people, prepare charge sheets and present them in appropriate court of law.
• You will help in countering and tackling the border security issues and terrorism.
• You may play a leading role by supervising the local police assigned under you.
• You would help and coordinate the district’s attorney officer by providing them the criminal suspects and present before the court.
• You will assist the other law enforcing agencies by providing them information on terrorism and national security.
• You will help the ministry of central and state government, public undertakings in making several managerial and legal policies.

How to become a Police Officer – Educational Requirement

To become a Police Officer, after your Bachelor degree in any subject, you can either appear for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducted Civil Services Examination and opt for Indian Police Services as your preferred service or you can appear for a State Public Service Commission conducted State Civil Services Examination and opt for State Police Services.

 Job Opportunities

If you are an IPS Officer, during your training years (2 years of training), after clearing UPSC Civil Services Exam and after having successfully allotted to IPS, you will be posted as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. After your training, you will be either posted in the State Police Services or a Central Police Force as a DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) or you will be posted in a police Commissionerate (such as a City police force) as an ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police).

If you are a State Police Services Officer, after your training and probation for 3 years, you will be posted as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Salary of a Police Officer

According to the 7th pay commission of India. The salary structure of a police officer is as follows:

• At the entry level, you will join as an Assistant Commissioner of Police. Your salary will be Rs. 56,100 to 1,77,000 per month.
• As an Additional Superintendent of Police, your salary will be Rs. 67,700 to 1,82,000 per month.
• As a senior Superintendent of Police, your salary will be Rs. 78,800 to 1,90,000 per month.
• As a Deputy Inspector General of Police, your salary will be Rs 1,31,100 to 2,00,000 per month.
• As an Inspector General of Police, you will earn around Rs 1,44,200 to 2,15,000 per month.
• As a Director General of Police, your salary will be around Rs 2,05,400 to 2,20,000 per month.
• As a Commissioner of Police under the rank of Director General of Police, you will earn Rs 2,25,000 per month.

Career Growth in Police Officer Profession

• If you are an IPS Officer posted in a State Police Service or a Central Police Force, you will move from DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) to Superintendent of Police (SP) and then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Inspector General of Police (IG), Additional Director General of Police (Additional DGP), and finally Director General of Police (DGP). In a Commissionerate (such as a city police force): ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) – DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) – Additional Commissioner of Police – Joint Commissioner of Police – Special Commissioner of Police – Commissioner of Police.
• If you are a State Police Service officer, your ranks will be in between Deputy Superintendent of Police to Superintendent of Police. In between you will get a rank of an Additional Superintendent of Police.

What does industry trends say – future prospects

Indian police officer service is a government job. The number of jobs for police officers are increasing but below average and it may vary from year to year as government focuses on hiring people based on their skills, but they do not compromise the selection due to which many times the number of seats remain empty. Lakhs of people fill the forms but only a few get selected based on their skills and development. Thus, if you are really dedicated to this career, then only you should think of entering this career.

Also, read;

• The Most Popular 12th Pass Job Options
• Delhi Police Recruitment Diaries: Exams & Preparation
• Career as a Civil Services Officer
• Criminology: A Comprehensive Career Guide
• Career Progression in Border Security Force Officer