Police Ranks- History, Police Rankings in India, and More

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Police Rankings in India: Police Ranks, History, and More

Shihij Kaul

Updated on 24th July, 2024 , 5 min read

Police Rankings in India are classified based on Police Posts in the department. The Police Force Ranks in India vary from state to state as every state has its own police force. Indian Police Service is the last direct entry in Police rank in India. The entrance exam is conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) every year to fill the open positions in various police ranks in India.
Entry 2 of the State Subject List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India states Police rankings depend on the authority of individual states. The organization of the police differs according to the state. The Indian Police Service is at the top of the Police Force Rankings. It is the highest direct entry Police Rank in the state of India.

In several states, the Police Department comes under the Home Ministry of the state government. Whereas for the district level, the Police personnel come under Direct Magistrate and primarily in response to the Law and order of the State. The Union Government of India decides the Police ranks in the Union Territories through Lieutenant governors of the UTs.

Indian Police Ranks: History 

Police Ranks in India are still based on ancient British Rule. During the post-independence era, the constitution of India created the Police, a subject under entry 2 in the state list. However, after independence, Police ranks were diminished and were allotted to states rather than the center. Also, the union government is liberal in establishing any force they find suitable. Police force ranks in India are diverged into direct entry posts and promoting posts. Indian Police Rank is positioned at the second-highest place across the globe in the context of the number of personnel in forces.

There are four different levels assigned for the recruitment of India Police:

  • Constabulary 
  • Upper Sub-ordinate
  • SPS ( through the State Public Service Commission)
  • IPS ( through Union Public Service Commission)

Police Ranks in India

Police Rank has the same position as police machinery. Police ranks are classified into the following categories:

Indian Police Ranks: Constable

Constable is the lowest rank of a police officer. In some regions, this rank is also known as Sipahi. Constables are the lowest rank officers in the Police Force. They generally carry wooden sticks with them, but officers with higher ranks carry guns. Higher-ranking officers are taught how to use weapons when they are trained after they are hired. These positions were created during the British era. A constable can become a Senior Constable, and then can later on be promoted to the position of Head Constable. State police recruitment bodies conduct examinations for home guard or constable recruitment. The three levels of constables in the Police Rank List are mentioned below:

  • Constable 
  • Head Constable
  • Assistant Sub Inspector – Police Rank

After the Head Constable post, the next post of promotion is the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). The ASI selection is done through competitive examinations which are conducted by specific authorities, and this process changes from state to state. Each state’s police team has its hiring procedure with exams to choose ASIs and SIs. These SIs then get promoted to become Police Inspectors (PIs). The order of these positions is mentioned below :

  • Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI)
  • Sub-Inspector of Police (SI)
  • Inspector of Police (PI)

Indian Police Ranks: Provincial/State Police Service Officers (PPS/SPS)

Candidates who want to be recruited as police officers of a respected state need to go through a stage known as the “State Public Service Commission”. State Police Service is an official job. After some years of working, they become a part of the Indian Police Service (IPS). PPS officers start as DSPs. Police Inspectors can be promoted to become DSPs during the end stage of their career. SPS officers get promoted in the following pattern:

  • Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)
  • Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)
  • Superintendent of Police (SP)
  • Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)

Indian Police Ranks: IPS Officers

The recruitment of these officers is conducted through the UPSC Exam. After the selection process, the eligible candidates will receive a pan-India posting as Assistant Superintendent. The post orders are mentioned below:

  • Assistant Superintendent of Police 
  • Additional Superintendent of Police
  • Superintendent of Police 
  • Senior Superintendent of Police 
  • Deputy Inspector General of Police
  • Inspector-General of Police (IGP)
  • Additional Director General of Police 
  • Director-General of Police

Ranking in Police: Higher Ranks

The IPS officer is the top position in the police rank for every state. The post of Director-General of Police is the highest in the police service. DGP reports to the state’s Chief Minister. The police ranks are mentioned below:

Indian Police Ranks 

SNo.

 

Police Ranks

Recruitment Method

1

Constable

Direct Recruitment through the Police Recruitment Board

2

 

 

Head Constable

Promotion

3

 

 

 

Assistant  Sub-Inspector

Direct Recruitment through the Police Recruitment Board

4

Sub-Inspector

Promotion

5

Inspector

Promotion

6

 

 

Deputy Superintendant of Police (Dy. SP)

 

 

PPS recruited through the SPSC/IPS in the initial years

7

 

Additional Superintendent of Police

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

8

 

 

Superintendent of Police

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

9

 

 

Senior Superintendent of Police

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

10

 

 

Deputy Inspector General of Police

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

11

 

 

Inspector-General of Police (IGP)

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

12

 

 

Additional Director General of Police (ADG)

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

13

 

 

Director-General of Police (DGP) 

 

IPS/PPS through promotion

Police Rank List in Commissioner System of Policing

Police departments have double command over the commissioner system. The District Magistrate is responsible for making crucial decisions for the city’s safety and security. The Magistrate provides permission for arrests and also for carrying weapons, but it's not as easy as it sounds as the police need to get permission for arrests from the District Magistrate and sometimes the permission may take a bit of time, due to the busy schedule of the District Magistrate. To make the process easier, the concept of a commission system is introduced in urban areas of some states.
The details are mentioned below:

Police Rank in IG Police System

Police Rank in Commissioner Police System

Director-General of Police (DGP)

Deputy Inspector General of Police

Additional Commissioner of Police

Senior Superintendent of Police

Deputy Commissioner of Police

Superintendent of Police

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police

Additional Superintendent of Police

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police

Deputy Superintendant of Police (Dy. SP)

Assistant Commissioner of Police

Inspector

Sub-Inspector

Assistant Sub-Inspector

Head Constable

Constable

Indian Police Ranks

The Indian Police Ranks according to their jurisdiction and powers are mentioned below:

  • Constables
  • Head Constable
  • Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI)
  • Sub-Inspector of Police (SI)
  • Inspector of Police (PI)
  • Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
  • Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)
  • Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. SP)
  • Superintendent of Police (SP)
  • Senior Superintendent  of Police (SSP)
  • Deputy Inspector General of Police
  • Inspector-General of Police  (IGP)
  • Additional Director General of Police 
  • Director-General of Police (DGP)
     

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are police ranks in order in India?

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. SP) Superintendent of Police (SP) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Deputy Inspector General of Police Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Additional Director General of Police Director-General of Police (DGP).

What is the rank of IPS in India?

The IPS in Police rankings contains 8 positions that starts from the entry level. IPS Officers are selected through the UPSC Exam.

Is DGP higher than IPS?

DGP or the Director General of Police is the highest rank in Indian Police Ranks. There is no direct entry to this position. People achieve this post based on years of service and experience.

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