
One of the top three Civil Services Examinations (CSE), the Indian Police Service, commonly called IPS, is a coveted service that forms leadership roles in the police force of India. Just like the other two CSE exams, such as Indian Foreign Services (IFS) and the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), the Indian Police Service, too, is an integral part of the Indian system and is comprised of police officials of higher ranks.
Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, the UPSC IPS exam receives lakhs of applications from the aspiring candidates every year. However, the aspirants must have to go through the entrance examination administered by the UPSC to join the elite Indian Police Service.
UPSC IPS Exam 2020 – Roles and Responsibilities of IPS Officers
Comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the IPS Officers are employed by the Central Government and the respective states. Considering their higher ranks and elite positions, the IPS Officers enjoy significant perks since the IPS was formed in 1948. Besides, they are entitled with a lot of responsibilities.
Here are the top roles and responsibilities that an IPS Officer carries out –
- Maintaining public peace and order that includes crime prevention, safeguarding public and investigation, detection and collection of intelligence
- Offering VIP security
- Commanding Indian Federal Law Enforcement Agencies such as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Civil and Armed Police Forces in all union territories and states, Central Police Organisations (CPO) and Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF) including CISF, NSG, CRPF, ITBP and BSF
- Border duties and responsibilities including border policing and counter-terrorism
- High-rank posts in the Indian Intelligence Agencies such as CID, CBI, IS and R&AW.
- Tracking economic offences such as corruption in public life
- HODs in policymaking in PSUs both at the centre and states and in the Ministries and Departments of Central and State Governments
- Anti-smuggling and drug trafficking
- Enforcement of socio-economic legislation
- Disaster management such as enforcement or protection of environmental laws, biodiversity, etc.
- Railway policing
- Interact and coordinate closely with the Indian Army and Armed Forces in general and Other All India Services
IPS Branches –
The Indian Police Service is divided into several functional branches or departments. They are – Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Crime Branch, Traffic Bureau and Home Guards. These branches help fulfil the above-mentioned responsibilities effectively, systematically and responsibly.
UPSC IPS Exam Highlights
Approximately, more than 8 lakh Indian candidates apply for the UPSC IPS exam each year. The application and the selection processes are common for all the Civil Services Examinations. The selection process includes –
- Preliminary
- Main examination
- An interview/ personality test
Let’s take a quick look at the IPS exam highlights –
Exam Name |
Civil Services Examination (Indian Police Service) |
Organising Body |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Exam Level |
National |
Exam Type |
Offline (Pen and paper) |
Total Number of Vacancies |
Approx. 800 |
Total Number of Services |
24 |
Total Number of Attempts |
6 |
Expected Registration |
Approx. 8 lakh |