What is IPS Full Form?

The IPS full form in English is the "Indian Police Service." The IPS is one of the three All India Services, the other two being the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). Being an integral part of the Indian civil services, the IPS was established to maintain law and order and hence has been playing a vital role in maintaining public peace, preventing crime, and enforcing the law throughout the country. The IPS is personifying authority with duty and service. The very abbreviation, IPS, symbolizes an honorable career that gives an opportunity to serve the motherland in the most exalted positions.

History of IPS

The history of the Indian Police Service (IPS) goes back to the British colonial period when a need was first realized for a structured professional police force to maintain law and order in a country as vast and diverse as India. The roots of the IPS go back to the Indian Imperial Police, which was formed in 1861 after the Indian Police Act of the same year. It was part of the attempt by the British Indian government to set up a force with a Pan-Indian character, which would have vigor to enforce the colonial laws and keep the country in control.

The principal duties of the Indian Imperial Police included internal security, crime prevention and investigation, and the handling of situations relating to law and order. The officers used to be chosen through a very strenuous selection process and mostly were British nationals, though a few Indians had been inducted into the service with time.

The IPS was constituted in 1948 after the reorganization of services to meet the needs of a sovereign nation. The Indian Police Service was responsible for replacing the Indian Imperial Police, which had been established as an All India Service in order for officers to serve both in their state cadres and on deputation to the central government, a provision made in order to ensure a single approach to policing throughout the country.

Eligibility Criteria for IPS Examination

The candidates must fulfill certain eligibility criteria to become an IPS officer. The criteria have been developed in a way to draw out all but the ablest and most persevering aspirants for entry into this Service. Eligibility for the IPS Examination conducted by the UPSC through the CSE includes:

Educational Qualification: An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from any recognized university/institution. There is no stream of study mentioned, so any graduate may be eligible for applying for the examination.

Age Limit: In case of general category candidates, the minimum and maximum age limit for appearing for the IPS examination is 21 and 32 years, respectively. Age relaxation is there on the age prescribed for reserved categories, such as SC/ST candidates by up to 5 years, OBCs by 3 years, with some other extra relaxations applicable for the ex-servicemen, physically challenged candidates, etc.

Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India. Under some exceptional conditions, persons who are citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came into India before 1st January 1962, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the end goal of permanently settling in India are also.

Physical Standards: The candidates must come up to the prescribed standards of height, chest measurement, and vision as specified by the UPSC. These are of the greatest essence since the job of an IPS officer involves much physical exertion and a commanding presence.

Number of Attempts: The general category candidates have six attempts, while the OBC category candidates have nine attempts. SC/ST category candidates can have as many attempts as they want but only up to the age limit.

Primary Objectives of IPS

The primary and foremost objectives of the Indian Police Service are to maintain law and order, ensure public safety, and uphold the rule of law. These likely frame the duties or responsibilities of the IPS officer and in general form the mission of the service. The key objectives of the IPS are:

Maintaining Public Order: Amongst the chief responsibilities of the IPS is maintaining public order and ensuring control over disturbances that are a threat to the peace and stability of the country. With a view of managing protests, riots, and other violence-prone situations, the IPS officers ensure such events are managed with the smallest effect on public life.

Prevention of Crime: The IPS is charged with the planning and effecting of police strategies to prevent crime. Through investigation setups, it is also responsible for criminal investigations that span from petty theft to very serious crimes, including murder, terrorism, and organized crime. The officers of the IPS execute their work hand in glove with other law enforcement agencies and jurisdiction in bringing criminals to book.

Ensuring National Security: IPS officers are involved in various aspects of national security, ranging from counter-terrorism to intelligence gathering and border security. They ensure that threats to the national level from both home-borne and foreign sources are prevented and counteracted, and have critical performance in ensuring the integrity and security of the country.

Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens: The IPS shall bring the entire regime of performing its responsibilities for enforcing the law in such a way that the rights and freedoms of citizens are guaranteed. These rights extend even to the weakest groups within women, children, and minorities from any abuse and exploitation. Law enforcement must be fair and just.

Promote Social Justice and Equality: IPS officers enact the laws implanting the rights of the deprived and underprivileged sections of society in order to promote social justice and equality. These include issues such as caste-based discrimination, human trafficking, and gender-based violence.

Disaster Management and Emergency Response: In all serious exigencies like natural calamities, serious accidents, etc., the IPS officer remains right at the forefront. They coordinate rescue and relief operations, arrange the evacuation of people from affected areas, and ensure proper maintenance of law and order during such crises.

The Indian Police Service is a decentralized service with officers serving in the units across the country. Though the IPS does not have a regional office setup by itself, its officers are posted in various states, Union Territories, central, and specialized units of police forces.

IPS Regional Office

The Indian Police Service (IPS) works on the decentralized concept of officials serving within the country in different capacities. While the IPS itself doesn't have regional offices, its officers do get posted in different states and Union Territories, serving within state police forces, central agencies, and specialized units.

Every state and Union Territory has its police force headed by an IPS officer in the rank of Director-General of Police (DGP). The DGP is the highest-ranking police officer in the state, and overall administration of the state police force falls under his responsibility. Below the DGP, IPS officers serve as Commissioners of Police in metropolitan towns, Inspectors General of Police (IGP) of various zones and Superintendents of Police (SP) in districts.

At the central level, IPS officers serve in organizations such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, National Investigation Agency, and Central Armed Police Forces like BSF and CRPF. The headquarters of these central agencies are located at different places across the country and are engaged in tasks ranging from internal security to counter-terrorism and gathering of intelligence.

Examinations Conducted for IPS

Actually, the Indian Police Service does not conduct an entrance examination itself. It is through the CSE (Civil Services Examination), which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, that one can enter into the IPS. The CSE is one of India's toughest competitive exams, reaching across graduates from streams varying in nature, with hope of joining Indian civil services.

The Civil Service Exam is made up of three stages:

Preliminary Examination: This is the first examination in the CSE, comprising two objective-type papers—General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II, known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test for the candidates, enabling them to qualify for the next level.

Main Examination: A candidate who has been declared successful at the Preliminary Examination is permitted to take the Main Examination, which is much more exhaustive, consisting of nine papers including an essay paper, general studies, and optional subjects by the candidate. It is supposed to help a candidate exhibit greater knowledge depth and analytical abilities from wide-ranging issues.

Personality Test (Interview): The final leg of the CSE is the Personality Test, popularly referred to as the Interview. It shall be the final stage in which candidates who have qualified for the Main Examination shall be invited for an interview or a Personality Test by the board. It assesses the personality attributes of the candidate, communication skills, and suitability for service in the civil service, including the IPS.

Conclusion 

From the “IPS full form” begins a journey for the student. But the journey to becoming an IPS officer is not easy, where a candidate has to fulfill stringent eligibility criteria and pass with great hype in one of the toughest examinations across the nation—the Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC. No less challenging are the training and responsibilities that follow since IPS officers have a broad spectrum of duties that range from prevention and investigation of crimes and disaster management to countering terrorism.

FAQs

1. Can a 12th pass apply for IPS?

No, one cannot apply directly for the IPS after a 12th pass. An IPS candidate must be a graduate with a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institute. Then, post a graduation degree, one can join the service through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the UPSC, through which one will be selected to join this IPS cadre.

2. What is the IPS qualification?

The minimum educational qualification required to appear for the IPS is a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. He or she should meet the age, nationality, and physical standards in accordance with the norms by the UPSC. In addition, a candidate must pass the Civil Services Examination, also known as the competitive examination conducted by the Board. This examination consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test or Interview.

3. How many subjects are in IPS?

The IPS does not have any identified subjects to specialize in. It is a service in which cadets can be recruited after successfully passing the Civil Services Examination. The examination allows candidates to enter into various services under specific subjects, which are included in different stages. Its Preliminary Examination is divided into two parts: General Studies and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). 

4. Is the “IPS full form” asked in any examination?

Yes. In many competitive examinations, General Knowledge Tests, Quiz Contests, Government Interviews, Objective tests,etc. the “IPS full form” is asked.

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