Indian Police Service (IPS)
Main article: Indian Police Service
The Indian Police Service
The Indian Police Service more popularly known as the IPS, is responsible for internal security, public safety and law and order. In 1948, a year after India gained independence from Britain, the Imperial Police (IP) was replaced by the Indian Police Service. The IPS is not a law enforcement agency in its own right; rather it is the body to which all senior police officers belong regardless of the agency for whom they work.
The IPS officer takes charge as an Assistant Superintendent of Police of a Sub-division after probation of 2 years. The tenure of this post is normally 2 years. The next appointment is as Additional Superintendent of Police and then as Superintendent of Police orDeputy Commissioner of Police and then as Deputy Inspector General of Police or Additional Commissioner of Police, Inspector General of Police and finally, Director General of Police.
IPS officers also work in the national government agencies such as Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, Central Bureau of Investigation, etc. IPS officers also get highly placed in the Central Secretariat or the other protective forces such as Director General of Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force, etc.
The Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police is the head of the entire police force of the State or Metropolitan City (e.g.Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Madras etc.) and below him is the Additional DGP/Special Police Commissioner. The Inspector General orJoint Commissioner of Police is at the head of certain specialised police force like Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch, etc.
