Becoming a Police Officer is one of the most highly regarded professions in India. Police Officers are government officials who are responsible for preventing crimes and disorders of any form in society, as well as maintaining peace and harmony. Apart from this, Police Officers are also in charge of investigating crimes, promoting public order, and identifying situations that could potentially lead to crimes and others. As per Economic Times, India’s ratio of 138 policemen against 1 lakh citizens, is the 5th lowest among 71 countries.
Some of the best courses after 12th that can be pursued to become a Police Officer include Criminology, Sociology, Political Science etc. Aspiring candidates can also pursue undergraduate courses such as BA Criminology and Police Administration in order to become a Police Officer. Students must complete their graduation from any recognised Government / Private College with a minimum aggregate score of 45% aggregate or equivalent CGPA. After completing graduation candidates have to clear various Entrance Exams such as CSE (Civil Service Exams) or SSC exams as directed by various state governments of the country. Also Check: Types of Police Officers
The average starting salary of a Police Officer is INR 3.67 LPA. However, with gradual experience and exposure the salary of a Police Officer can go up to as much as INR 24 LPA along with a gradual rise in designations and rankings simultaneously. On average the starting salary of a Police Inspector in India is INR 0.4 LPA - 3.36 LPA, while the salary of an Assistant Commissioner of Police in India is INR 5.1 LPA. Read More: Salary of a Police Officer
- How to Become a Police Officer: Quick Facts
- Duration to Become a Police Officer
- Qualifications to Become a Police Officer
- Types of Police Officers
- Steps to Become a Police Officer
- How to Become a Police Officer in India
6.1 How to Become a Police Officer after 12th
6.2 How to Become a Police Officer after Graduation
7.1 Entrance Exams
How to Become a Police Officer: Quick Facts
| Industry | Crime and Investigation |
| Eligibility | Class 12th board exams from any recognised board Entrance Exams such as SSC, CSE |
| Top Recruiters | CBI, CID and other government departments |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3.67 LPA |
| Highest Salary | INR 24 LPA |
Duration to Become a Police Officer
- It may take around 4 years to become a Police Officer, however one’s designation and credentials play a determining factor in the duration to becoming one
- After clearing class 12th board exams, candidates are eligible to join the IPS as Constable or Head Constable
- Candidates with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to join the IPS as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), provided they clear the IPS Exam administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Check:
| BA Colleges in Delhi | BA Colleges in Mumbai | BA Colleges in Kolkata |
| BA Colleges in Pune | BA Colleges in Bangalore | BA Colleges in Chennai |
Qualifications to Become a Police Officer
It takes more than clearing an entrance exam and being familiar with the law and order to become a Police Officer. Becoming a Police Officer goes far beyond that and ideally has its foundations in the educational system. One must complete at least class 12 in order to join the Indian Police force. After clearing 10+2, the first door to becoming a police officer gets cleared. Discussed below are the rest of the necessary qualifications that are required to become a Police Officer.
- Candidates who aspire to join the police force must first complete their graduation across any field with a minimum aggregate score of 45% and above from a recognized college or university.
- They are then required to clear the entrance exams as per their choice of designations that they want to apply to. There are various entrance exams that are conducted to hire Police Officers across various levels such as SSC GD Constable Entrance Exams, State Police Constable Exams, SSC CPO Exam, and UPSC CSE (for IPS).
- Apart from this candidates who aspire to become Police Officers are also required to maintain other physical criteria such as, they should be able to run 1600 meters in under 6 minutes and 30 seconds to qualify for PET.
- Candidates should also clear POPAT, Police Officer’s Physical Abilities Test, where they are scrutinized on their speed, agility, strength resistance, focus, determination and stamina.
- Finally, there are certain height and weight requirements for candidates who aspire to join the IPS. The minimum required height for male and female candidates are as follows, Male: 170 cm and Female: 157 cm.
Types of Police Officers
There are various types of Police Officers in India, who can be differentiated on the basis of their ranks, departments and experience. Some of the major types of Police Officers on the basis of their designations are tabulated below along with their job profile and the average salary for your reference,
| Designations | Job Profiles | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Police Constable | The role of a Police Constable is to gather information and collect evidence. They are in charge of duties such as patrolling, crime detection, escorting prisoners and VIPs, assisting civil administrations etc | 4.2 L |
| Sub Inspector | Sub Inspectors ensure the effective working of the management or their subordinate staff. Their main agenda is to detect and prevent any sort of crime, whilst maintaining the peace. They are also in charge of maintaining a register in the police station. | 7.10 L |
| Assistant Police Inspector | The job of an Assistant Police Inspector includes supervising the investigation in the absence of an Inspector. They are responsible for the prevention or detection of crime within their jurisdiction. | 7.81 L |
| Inspector | The job of an Inspector is to supervise the investigation under his jurisdiction. They also train junior investigating officers investigating the case. Inspectors are in charge of supervising all official works including maintenance of records and report it to senior Police Officers. | 8 L |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police | Deputy Superintendent of Police or DSP is in charge of executing all duties and maintaining law and order or any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent of Police. They also supervise the work of their juniors. DSPs also look after all the cases registered by the other police station within their jurisdiction | 9.60 L |
| Deputy Commissioner of Police | As a Deputy Commissioner of Police or DCP, one has to enforce policies and activities given by the central government or state government. They have the power to inspect and monitor the work done by other junior officials. They also act as an appellate authority in revenue | 15.2 L |
Read More:
Steps to Become a Police Officer
In order to become a Police Officer, aspiring candidates need to follow certain steps for an easy and hassle-free process. Some of the major steps that are essential for becoming a Police Officer in India are listed below for your reference,
- The first and foremost step or criteria that must be fulfilled in order to become a Police Officer in India is that candidates must be a citizen of India
- Candidates after qualifying for class 12th board exams are eligible to apply for Police Constable positions. The recruitment exam held for hiring Police Officers across the ranks for Constable is SSC, Staff Selection Commission, conducted by various state governments
- Candidates who qualify for the written examination, are then judged on physical fitness rounds before being selected for a position in the Indian Police department
- Candidates who have completed their graduation across any discipline from a recognised board are eligible for taking the IPS or Indian Police Service exams, where they are judged on the basis of written as well as physical examinations before being hired for any top positions in the Indian Police force
- However, one of the chief criteria for appearing for IPS examinations is, candidates, must be of a minimum age of 21 years
- Apart from qualifying for the physical fitness round, candidates are also required to fulfil other physical attributes for being selected as a Police Officer. Candidates should meet the standards as set by the department for being hired as a Police Officer, which includes having a certain amount of height, weight and eyesight
How to Become a Police Officer in India
The basic recruiting process for Police Officers in India is broadly classified into two steps, i.e. How to Become a Police Officer After 12th and How to Become a Police Officer After Graduation. Discussed below are the various steps and paths that must be followed in order to become a Police Officer in India.
Read More: BA Criminology Colleges
How to Become a Police Officer After 12th
For students having cleared class 12th board exams are eligible for becoming a Police Officer across various designations such as Constable and Head Constable. In order to become a Constable one does not primarily need to have a graduation degree but one should, however, clear the relevant entrance exams for the posts.
The table below will discuss the positions and their eligibility criteria to become a Police Officer after clearing class 12th board exams.
| Designation | Eligibility | Entrance Exams |
|---|---|---|
| Constable | Should clear Class 12th board exams Must be of a minimum age of 18 and maximum age of 25 years | State conducted recruitment exams |
| Head Constable | Should clear Class 12th board exams Must be of a minimum age of 18 and maximum age of 25 years | State conducted recruitment exams |
How to Become a Police Officer After Graduation
After completing graduation in any subject candidates are eligible to become a Police Officer across various higher designations. Students who clear UPSC or IPS entrance exams are eligible to join the Police force across several higher designations such as Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police etc.
The table below will discuss some of the top posts that can be joined post clearing the entrance exams that are conducted by the states or centre based.
| Designations | Entrance Exams |
|---|---|
| Superintendent of Police / Deputy Superintendent of Police | UPSC CSE (IPS) |
| Assistant Commissioner of Police | UPSC CSE (IPS) |
| Sub Inspector | SSC |
| Assistant Sub Inspector | SSC |
Find Out: BA vs BA Hons
Courses to Become a Police Officer
Some of the key courses that must be pursued in order to become a Police Officer in India are tabulated below for your reference.
| Parameters | Criminology Courses | Political Science Courses | Sociology Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Undergraduation from a recognised university | Undergraduation from a recognised university | Undergraduation from a recognised university |
| Top Colleges | University of Mysore University of Madras University of Bangalore | Lady Shri Ram College Christ University Presidency College | Jadavpur University LD Arts College Bharathiar University |
| Entrance Exams | SET, CUET | SET, CUET | SET, CUET |
| Average Course Fees | INR 500 - 5,000 | INR 500 - 5,000 | INR 500 - 5,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3.67 LPA | INR 3.67 LPA | INR 3.67 LPA |
Entrance Exams
Some of the top entrance exams that are conducted to enrol across various position in the Indian Police force are tabulated below for your reference.
| Entrance Exams | Registration Date | Registration Deadlines | Exam Dates | Result Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPS | February 1, 2023 | February 21, 2023 | May 28, 2023 | To be Notified |
| SSC GD Constable Exam | February 22, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | January 10 – February 14, 2023 | To be Notified |
| State Police Constable Exams | February 22, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | January 10 – February 14, 2023 | To be Notified |
| SSC CPO Exam | July 2023 | August 2023 | November 9 – 11, 2023 | To be Notified |
Top Colleges
As there are no specific courses that must be pursued in order to become a Police Officer in India, candidates from any discipline can become one. Having said that, some of the top colleges across various courses that can be enrolled in for becoming to Police Officer are tabulated below for your reference,
| Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Christ University | Bangalore | 50,000 |
| Jadavpur University | Kolkata | 2,400 |
| Jyoti Nivas Colleges | Bangalore | 20,492 |
| Ranchi University | Ranchi | 2, 850 |
| Jaipur National University | Jaipur | 38,300 |
| LD Arts Colleges | Ahmedabad | 1,085 |
| Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University | Kanpur | 39,293 |
| Barkatullah University | Bhopal | 9,795 |
| Madhya Pradesh Bhoj University | Bhopal | 3,612 |
| Gujarat Vidyapith | Ahmedabad | 11,830 |
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Police Officer
Some of the major pros and cons of becoming a Police Officer in India are listed below for your reference,
Pros of Becoming a Police Officer
- Great Reputation: A Police Officer is one who protects society. They are often considered to be saviours and are well respected in their community. Despite the fact that they work across potentially hazardous circumstances, Police Officers are often supported by trained personnel who provide backup and support in any situation.
- Job Satisfaction: The job role of a Police Officer is very dynamic. There are no same days and every day is a new challenge for them. But in one way or the other, they are protecting the citizens which gives them a lot of satisfaction.
- Rise in Competitive Environment: The work environment of a Police Officer is very competitive. They have to give their best in their duties. Police Officers are highly motivated due to their willingness to shape the community and serve the people or protect their people.
- Attractive Perks: Police Officers enjoy a lot of monetary and other benefits. They are offered a decent salary by the government. In addition to the base salary, a Police Officer is offered perks like a provident fund, house rent allowance, travel allowance, gratuity and other benefits.
- Promotional Benefits: In the Police department, the promotion rate is quite high as compared to other government employees in other departments. A DCP is promoted to ASP and then SP. Before retirement potential candidates with good success records can go up to DIG and IG.
- Retirement Benefits: A Police Officer when retired gets a huge amount of funds which includes their Provident Fund and Gratuity and even interest on that. In addition to that, they are reimbursed for their medical expenses.
- Authoritative Position- Being a Police Officer puts one in an authoritative position that helps you to grow faster. One can command and make sure that the law is enforced and properly followed
Cons of Becoming a Police Officer
- Risk of Death and Injury: There are some extreme days in the life of a Police Officer. Their job involves death risk on a daily basis. Many Police Officers lose their lives while protecting the community from crime and violence.
- Emotionally Challenging: The job of a Police Officer is very emotionally challenging not only for them but also for their families. Being the protectors of our society they are often loaded with responsibilities and duties even on public holidays.
- No Fixed Timings: Police Officers have to work day and night. They don’t have any fixed hours of working as compared to other departments or jobs. There are no holidays; and no festival break for the Police Officers.
Skills Required to Become a Police Officer
Before joining any profession candidates majorly upgrade themselves with the required set of educational degrees. However in order to be able to shine across their profession, they must also inculcate certain skills as per the profession. These skills not only help in creating a rock solid foundation about the course but also helps in understanding the profession better.
Some of the most essential skills that are required to become a Police Officer in India are tabulated below for your reference.
| Active Listening | Persuasiveness | Attention to Detail |
| Physical Stamina | Community Awareness | Critical Thinking |
| Interpersonal Communication | Morality | Assertiveness |
| Courage | Teamwork | Empathy |
Salary of a Police Officer
The average salary of a Police Officer in India usually depends on various factors such as designation, experience and qualifications. However, on average, the starting salary of a Police Officer in India is around INR 3 LPA - 3.5 LPA.
The table below will discuss the average salary of a Police Officer on the basis of experience gained for your reference.
| Experience Gained | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 5 years | 3 L - 3.60 L |
| 6 - 10 years | 5.50 L - 6.90 L |
| 11 - 15 years | 10.4 L |
| 16 - 20 years | 10.5 L - 12.03 L |
| 20 years & above | 13 L & above |
How to Become a Police Officer: FAQs
Ques. What should I do after 12th to become a Police Officer?
Ans. In order to become a Police Officer after 12th candidates must clear their graduation in any relevant subject followed by clearing various government exams that are conducted to hire Police Officers such as IPS, SSC, UPSC etc. After clearing any of these entrance exams they are then required to sit for interview rounds, which after clearing candidates are hired as police officers.
Ques. What is the starting salary of a Police Officer?
Ans. The starting salary of a Police Officer ranges from INR 4,00,000- INR 5,50,000 per annum
Ques. Can I Pursue a PG course, after doing the job as a Police Officer?
Ans. Yes, you can pursue a PG course in Criminology or Law Enforcement, after doing the job as a Police Officer.
Ques. What is the average salary of a Law Enforcement Instructor?
Ans. The average salary of a Law Enforcement Instructor ranges between INR 5,50,000- INR 6,00,000 per annum.
Ques. What is the minimum percentage required to appear in the SSC exam?
Ans. Students need to get a minimum of 50% of marks in graduation to appear in the SSC exam.
Ques. What skill is most essential for a Police Officer?
Ans. The most essential skill for Police Officer is physical fitness.
Ques. What is the exam conducted for appearing in Police Officer courses?
Ans. The most common exams that are conducted for appearing in the Police Officer course are SSC and UPSC.
Ques. What is the duration of the Ph.D. course in Law Enforcement?
Ans. The duration of a Ph.D. in law enforcement takes four to five years to complete
Ques. What is the duration of an associate degree in Police Officer?
Ans. The duration of an associate degree in Police Officer is for two years
Ques. What are the various job prospects for Police Officer?
Ans. The various job prospects in Police Officer are Private Investigator, Crime Scene Investigator, Law Enforcement Instructors, Personal Trainer, SP, DSP, Local Police Force, The Ministry of Defense Police and Specialist Forces, etc.
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