Police Posts and Departmental Rank in India

What are the Police Ranks in India?

Police play a pivotal role in supporting and managing the judicial system of any country They ensure public order through the regulated use of force. A police officer is a desirable post if you are interested in law and order and want to implement change in society through your work as a police officer.

The state government is responsible for appointing police officers and deciding their power in all Indian States. It is the State Government in each state who decides and defines the police ranks as per the rules and legislature, whereas, in Union Territories, the Indian government is responsible for controlling the ranks through the lieutenant governor. The Hierarchy of state government is as follows.

You can choose your best role by understanding the hierarchy of police rank in India.

Indian Police System: Structure

India is a federal democracy in which power is divided between central and state governments, with each state having its own police forces tasked with maintaining law and order and providing protection to its citizens. 

In Indian union territories, police forces are governed by centrally-appointed administrators. There are several central forces, but police forces are primarily managed by state governments.

  • Constabulary
  • Upper Subordinate
  • State Police
  • Indian Police Services (IPS)

are the four levels of divisions for the selection in the department of the Indian Police Force. Notably, police ranks in India are unchanged at the state and central levels.

State Police Department and Ranks

  • The state is divided into police zones and zones into police ranges 
  • Ranges are divided into districts and are headed by SSPs / SPs
  • The district is divided into circles or subdivisions and will be led by a circle officer or sub-divisional police officer
  • Circles have many police stations under them and will be headed by Inspector or Sub inspector-level officers.
  • Zones are monitored by IGP and Deputy IGP
  • DGP rank officers monitor the department of Police
  • DGP reports to the Home Minister and Home secretary of the respective state govt
  • Some states have a commissioner system of division headed by the police commissioner. 

Police- Rank wise Hierarchy

  • Constable
  • Head Constable
  • Assistant Sub-Inspector
  • Sub–Inspector
  • Inspector
  • SP (Deputy Superintendent of Police)
  • Additional Superintendent of Police(ASP)
  • Superintendent of police (SP)
  • Senior Superintendent of Police (S.SP)
  • Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
  • Inspector-General of Police(IGP)
  • Additional Director General of Police (ADG)
  • Director-General of Police (DGP)

Indian Police Ranking Hierarchy : Detail

  • Director General of Police (DGP): The Director-General of Police is appointed by the cabinet ministers. State police chiefs oversee all of their respective states or union territories. The first step to this role is to become an IPS officer.
  •  Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) : As DGPs in their respective states, they oversee the police and homeland security of their regions. They are liable for managing all matters related to police and motherland security.

  • Inspector General (IG): Taxation, judicial, and executive work are the main responsibilities for them.
  • Assistant Superintendent: In this capacity, an officer is the in-charge of a subdivision. He or she monitors and participates in all investigations under his/her jurisdiction. On orders, he or she visits all crime scenes of serious offenses. It can be obtained after promotion from an IPS officer based on experience gained after passing the UPSC examination.

  • Superintendent of Police (Additional): Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the most crucial things you must do when studying for examinations. You must have self-confidence and faith in your ability.

  • Deputy Superintendent: Those appointed as Deputy Superintendents are responsible for making sure transactions in their areas of operation run smoothly and safely. 

  • Deputy Inspector General: When dealing with the District Magistrate, Deputy Inspector represents General Inspector. 

  • Superintendent: District officers are their subordinates.

  • Deputy Commissioner: As the head of the District Police, they are also responsible for managing the State Police under their jurisdiction.

  • Superintendent of Police (Assistant): Because they have been assigned to oversee a subdivision, they are required to visit all the crime scenes of serious nature. Under their jurisdiction, investigators and prosecutors must monitor and participate in every investigation. 

  • Deputy Commissioner (OPS) (Additional): As general supervisors, they are needed to deliver guidance to all the people under their tutelage whenever necessary. They have the responsibility of ensuring that a certain operation is carried out smoothly and efficiently by their team.

  • Superintendent of Police (Deputy): They are entrusted with the duty of providing an efficient operation of everyday activities within their jurisdiction. They are also needed to offer suggestions and approve or alter any sort of departmental programmes, schemes, and actions.

  •  Inspector of Police (Station In-charge): They are in-charge of maintaining, enforcing, and implementing laws, investigating crimes, and coordinating inquiries. Police stations are also in their care

  • Inspector of Police (Sub): Between their superiors and subordinates, they form a vital link. 

  • Havaldar Major : A police officer’s duties include writing police reports and filing FIRs for any incident that requires action, as well as overseeing the outposts, armories, and drill units under his/her command.

  • Havaldar : A Havaldar is responsible for carrying out all sorts of duties entrusted to him by the police officer.

  • Constable: Constabulary comes at the bottom of the police department. 

    Police rank in India, thus, plays a major part in deciding the roles and duties of an officer. Through promotion and credible performance, higher posts can be achieved in the hierarchy chain of Indian police ranks. Lastly, by reading the above information, you can get a fair idea of the hierarchy order followed in India by the police department.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Q. What is the highest police rank in India?

    Ans:  Director General of Police or DGP is the highest police rank in India as per the state police department. DGP has the highest pay scale and salary among the other police officers in the state.

  • Q. How to apply for the highest police rank in India?

    Ans:  The highest police rank in India is DGP.You will have to go through the Civil Service exams and then you will have to be promoted for a DGP position 

  • Q. Which rank is highest in Indian police?

    Ans:  (DGP) is the highest Police rank in the State Police. It is the highest post in the Indian Police Hierarchy.

  • Q. What are police ranks in order in India?

    Ans: Read the above Race blog for detailed info regarding police ranks order in India.

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