The job of a police officer in India is one of the most coveted and sought after in India. Apart from serving/defending the society and maintaining law and order, the social status, countless perks, above par compensation make it all the more compelling. If you have ever wondered how to become a police officer in India then you are at the right place. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know in order to secure that prestigious police job.
There are several ways to become a police officer. Some of the most popular pathways areas
follows:
1. Becoming a police officer after graduation
You can take up the UPSC CSE (Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission) and apply for the role of an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer. If you clear all the rounds of the selection process and meet the physical/fitness standards then you can directly become a police officer. An IPS officer makes over INR 55,000 a month. Anyone who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree can apply for the UPSC CSE.
2. Becoming a police officer after class 12th
You can directly apply for the role of a police constable after completing class 12 from a recognized education board. The job role of a constable is very similar to that of a police officer but the pay is slightly lower. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts state level exams each year to recruit deserving candidates for the role of a police constable. For example, If you are from Delhi then you apply for the Delhi Police Constable recruitment process. Similarly, each state has its own recruitment process.
If you clear the recruitment process and the interview then you will undergo an intensive training program before you join the police force as a constable and make your way up quickly to the role of a police officer. A police constable (level 4 Group D) makes just over INR 21,000 a month making it a compelling choice for a candidate who has just finished class 12. Apart from the written exam and interview, your fitness levels will also be assessed before you are onboarded into the training program. A police head constable can go on to become a sub-inspector within just 5-7 years of joining the force.
The first step towards becoming a police officer is applying for the right role and exam. We have broken down the entrance exam, eligibility criteria, and salary for each of the popular roles below:
* the criteria mentioned are subject to change and doesn’t take the relaxations allowed for certain categories into consideration
| Job Role | Name of the Competitive Exam/Recruitment Process | Basic Academic Qualifications/Eligibility* | Approx. Monthly Salary |
| Constable | State-level exam | Successfully completed class 12 Age limit: 18 – 25 |
INR 7,000+ |
| Head Constable | State-level exam | Successfully completed class 12 | INR 5,200 to INR 20,200 |
| Assistant Sub- Inspector | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment or state level recruitment process | Head constable with a minimum experience of 5 years (internally promoted) | INR 9,300 to INR 34,800 |
| Sub-Inspector or Circle Inspector | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment | Successfully completed a bachelor’s degree | INR 15,600 – INR. 39,100 |
| Assistant Commissioner (AC) or Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) | IPS (UPSC CSE) | Successfully completed a bachelor’s degree Min age limit: 21 |
INR 15,600 to INR 39,300 |
| SP (superintendent of police)/ ASP (Asst. superintendent of police) | IPS (UPSC CSE) | Successfully completed a bachelor’s degree Min age limit: 21 |
INR 70,000 to INR 1,10,000 |
Applying for the right role and exam is just the beginning. Preparing for and cracking the recruitment process is the most crucial part.
How to Prepare for the recruitment processes?
- Get the necessary evil out of the way. Get the necessary documents for the exams in place. For example, if you are preparing for the Delhi Police Constable Recruitment then download the Delhi Police Constable Admit Card and get two-color printouts of the same. Ensure that you have two valid photo ID proofs to produce at the exam center
- Know the selection process, exam pattern, and syllabus.
- Cover every possible question type and master each topic in the syllabus. If you are short on time then focus on the important topics and capitalize on your strengths to clear the exam and qualify for the interview/next stage
- After learning a topic, make notes and practice previous year questions from the same topic to increase retention
- Attempt topic-specific/ sectional tests after finishing each topic/section. Maintain a detailed error log and revisit topics you are weak at.
- Focus purely on solving mocks and previous year papers in the last few days before the exam to boost your confidence.
All the best!
Author Bio
Chetan Sharma is a blogger and digital marketer by profession. He handles a network of multiple websites like Sheni Blog & various others. He helps clients all over the world to achieve digital success.
