Quick Summary
- Police Stands for Public Officer for Legal Investigations and Criminal Emergencies.
- The most common exams that are conducted for appearing in the Police Officer course are SSC and UPSC.
- The average salary range for a Police Officer is between INR 6,22,326 and INR 10,66,845 an year
Table of Contents
In every modern society, police officers are the representatives of the government. They help people conform to the law and order and protect the citizens’ rights. Also, it is their duty to ensure the enforcement of laws in the area under their scope. If you are aspiring to become a police officer in India, we have a complete stepwise guide to help you. The responsibilities and roles of a police officer are dynamic and multifaceted.
If you’re wondering how to become a police officer in India after 12th grade, keep reading.
Career Overview: Police Officer
| Parameters | Details |
| Eligibility | 10+2 |
| Industry | Law Enforcement and Public Safety |
| Role | Police Constable, Sub-Inspector, Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent, etc. |
| Starting Salary | INR 4 Lakh |
| Top recruiters | CISF, BSF, CBI, CRPF |
Salary of Police Officers in India
Every police officer in India must pay allegiance to the Constitution of India. As an officer, you must work according to the articles of the Constitution. If you are passionate about joining the police force, you must know its structure. The following are the types of police in India.
| Rank | Responsibilities | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| Constable | Maintain law and order, patrol assigned areas, assist in investigations, crowd control, report writing, follow orders. | 4 Lakh |
| Sub-Inspector (SI) | Investigate cases, supervise constables, gather evidence, interrogate suspects, maintain records, manage crime scenes. | 7 Lakh |
| Inspector | Lead investigations, oversee SI’s work, manage crime scenes, coordinate with superiors, gather intelligence. | 8 lakh |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | Manage law and order, supervise inspectors, handle sensitive cases, administrative duties. | 10 Lakh |
| Superintendent of Police (SP) | Overall in-charge of a district, manage police force, report to higher officials. | 18 Lakh |
| Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) | Oversee a range of departments, formulate policies, manage law enforcement strategies. | 25 Lakh |
| Director General of Police (DGP) | Head of the state police force, responsible for overall law enforcement, policy implementation | 30 Lakh |
Related Read: Detailed Explanation on all the Police Ranks in India with Salaries
Police Officer Salary by Experience
Different categories of police officers in India come under different pay bands. The government of India decides the pay scale of the officers. The seniority and responsibilities of the recruited officer helped in making this decision.
Here’s a general overview of the average salary for police officers in India based on experience:
| Experience (Years) | Average Salary (INR) |
| 0-5 | 3-5 Lakh |
| 6-10 | 5-7 Lakh |
| 11-15 | 8–11 Lakh |
| 16-20 | 12 Lakh |
| 20+ | 13 Lakh+ |
Types of Police Officers
IPS Officer Ranks
- Director General of Police
- Addl. Director General of Police
- Inspector General of Police
- Deputy Inspector General of Police
- Superintendent of Police
- Addl. Superintendent of Police
State Police Service Officers
- Superintendent of Police
- Addl. Superintendent of Police
- Deputy Superintendent of Police
Eligibility for Becoming a Police Officer
Police qualification requirements vary based on the post of your application. To get a police job after 12th grade, you must meet the basic requirements. The following table shows the general requirements for every post. But data may vary for reserved categories or the state of your application.
| Position | Age limit (in years) | Educational qualifications | Physical requirements |
| Constable or Head Constable | 18-25 | 10+2 | About 155 cm for women and 165 for men |
| Addl. Superintendent of Police | 21-30 | Graduation | About 165 cm for men and 150 cm for women |
| Sub Inspector or Assistant Sub Inspector | 20-25 | Graduation with at least 50% marks | About 157 cm for women and 170 cm for men |
The qualification for some posts is not listed in the table. The respective departments are responsible for recruiting people for those posts through promotion.
Steps to Become a Police Officer
Once you have graduated, you can apply for SSC, UPSC CSE, etc. and start preparing. Once you clear the exam, you’ll be shortlisted for a physical and a written test. Post that, you will be enrolled in police training for a minimum of 6 months, after which you can start your practice.
Below are the detailed steps to get a police job after 12th-
- Complete your graduation. This is an optional but recommended step. After 12th, you can only apply for a constable or head constable position whereas once you’re graduated, you can apply for a sub-inspector post and other higher positions.
- Apply for the Police Constable (PC) or Sub-Inspector (SI) exam. The exams are conducted by the state governments or the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The PC exam is for the post of constable, while the SI exam is for the post of sub-inspector.
- Clear the physical and written exams. The physical exam tests your stamina and strength, while the written exam tests your knowledge of general science, current affairs, and the police force. The physical exam usually includes a running test, a jumping test, and a lifting test. The written exam usually includes a multiple-choice test and a descriptive test.
- Go through the training. If you clear the exams, you will be called for training at a police academy. The training period is usually 6 months to 1 year. The training will teach you the basics of police work, such as law enforcement, investigation, and crowd control.
- Get posted as a police officer. After completing the training, you will be posted as a police officer in a police station or other law enforcement agency. Your first posting will likely be as a constable. You can then apply for the SI exam after gaining some experience.
How to Become a Police Officer in India
To become a police officer in India, after passing 12th, you can apply for the post of constable via your state-level recruitment exams. The alternative way is to complete your graduation and then directly apply for the post of sub-inspector by appearing for exams like CSE, SSC, and state-level police service exams.
How to Become a Police Officer after 12th
| Designation | Eligibility | Entrance Exams |
| Constable | Age: 18-25 years Educational Qualification: 10+2 | State-level police recruitment exams |
| Head Constable | Age: 18-25 years Educational Qualification: 10+2 or equivalent | State-level police recruitment exams |
How to Become a Police Officer after Graduation
| Designation | Entrance Exams |
| Sub-Inspector (SI) | SSC |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | State Police Service exams |
| Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) | UPSC CSE |
| Superintendent of Police (SP) | UPSC CSE |
List of Entrance Exams to Become a Police Officer
| Entrance Exam | Registration Dates | Exam Dates | Result Dates |
| SSC CPO (Central Police Organizations) | March 4, 2024 | 9th,10th and 13th May 2024. | To be announced |
| SSC GD Constable Exam | February 22, 2023 | 20th February to 12th March, 2024 | April-May 2024 |
| UPSC Civil Services Exam (IPS) | 14th February-6th March, 2024 | Prelims: 26th May Mains: 20th September,2024 | 40-45 days after exams conducted |
| State Police Constable Recruitment | Varies by State | Varies by State | Varies by State |
Apply for State-wise Police Recruitment:
UP Police Recruitment 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies
Jharkhand Police Recruitment 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies
Andhra Pradesh Police Recruitment 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancy
Telangana Police Recruitment 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies
Assam Police Recruitment 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies
Skills Required to be a Police Officer
When you hear “Police Officer”, bravery is the first word to flash in your mind. As they are the defenders of peace in society, officers must be courageous.
Apart from the essential police officer qualification, you must have the following qualities.
Morality
Understanding the Constitution and the law is important for an officer. Based on its framework, you must have a strong sense of ethics. This includes morality. You can learn the law. But you must ingrain morality in your character to become a good officer. With the balance of law and morality, you can become a respected officer.
Assertiveness
In extreme situations, you must be bold to make the right decisions. The police courses and training will teach you the theory of dealing with situations. But the training cannot teach you to be firm in your decision. You must assert your position. Take charge of the circumstances. Explain the course of action to your subordinates.
Courage
Courage is the primary skill of any police officer. With this skill, you have the ability to face dangerous situations. In your daily responsibility as a police officer, you will face criminals.
These could include dangerous terrorists or financial criminals. Dealing with such enemies requires determination and courage.
Teamwork
Winning a battle requires teamwork. During your career as a police officer, you will be working on several projects. Generally, the deadline for dealing with every case would be short. Instead of relying on your capabilities, you will have to seek help from subordinates. Their individual skills and experience will reduce your response time. It will also increase the efficiency of your end results.
Empathy
As a protector of civil laws, a police officer must understand emotions. Sensitivity to the needs of locals helps in understanding the root cause of crimes. With this knowledge, it becomes easy to eradicate them from their roots. Also, by empathizing with a criminal, you can encourage them to reveal sensitive information.
Leadership
In the previous sub-section, you saw the importance of teamwork. But, there must be minimal friction in the team to get the desired results. If you are a good leader, problem-solving ability comes naturally to you.
What’s Next as an Indian Police Officer?
Whether you’re thinking of how to become a DSP or SI after 12th grade, this article explains the eligibility conditions and salaries of various police officers. To become a Junior Grade Police Constable, you must qualify for the 12th-grade exams and clear the required entrance tests.
After becoming an Indian Police Officer, you can have a long and rewarding career in law enforcement. Furthermore, you can get promoted to the following posts as per your calibre-
- Superintendent of Police
- Deputy Inspector General of Police
- Inspector-General of Police
- Addl. Director General of Police
- Director-General of Police
A police officer is also qualified to become a CBI Officer as well. All in all, a police officer is one of the most reputed jobs in the country. This guide summarizes how to become a police officer after class 12th.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive into our guide on Career Advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
To become a police officer in India, you can take one of the following routes.
1. State or Provincial Recruitment exams
2. UPSC CSE exams
You must at least be 21 years old to become a police officer in India. However, the lower age limits vary for different positions.
The physical requirements for becoming a police officer in India vary. The upper and lower limits are decided based on the state of your application and the post. If you’re aiming to become an IPS officer, your height as a woman must at least be 150 cm. On the contrary, men must at least be 165 cm long.
The duration of the Phase-I training for an IPS officer is 11 months. This training is conducted at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. After this, you are assigned your cadre. Based on this cadre, you will undergo a District training of 6 months.
Aspiring police officers in India can take up several graduation-level courses. Criminology, Sociology, Public Administration, Law, and Criminal Justice. These can be your branches of study.
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