Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an IPS Officer

Indian Police Service (IPS) is an elite designation that is highly respected and looked forward to by Indian citizens. The recruitment of the IPS aspirants is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India. These officers serve across the country providing leadership positions to the police department all over India. IPS is a part of All India Services, which also includes other branches like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS).   

Let us take a look at the process of becoming an IPS officer in India with the help of a step-by-step guide starting from eligibility.

Eligibility and Physical Fitness Required to Become an IPS

Below are the various eligibility criteria required to be fulfilled for the post of an IPS officer:

Citizenship: The candidate must be an Indian citizen

Age: The candidate must be within 21 to 32 years of age. In the case of the OBC category, the maximum age limit of the candidate is extended to 35, while it is 37 years for the SC/ST category.

Education: The Candidate must have completed graduation or appeared in the final year exam.

Physical Requirement: Here are the minimum physical fitness criteria that will be checked during the medical exam:
 

How to become an IPS Officer?

To become an IPS officer in India, aspiring candidates must undergo a severe process of clearing the UPSC exam followed by rigorous training at Police Academy Hyderabad before getting posted as an IPS officer. Every year lakhs of aspirants apply for the selection process. However, only a few hundred candidates are selected for the post based on their eligibility after they crack the UPSC and fulfill other requirements. Let us take a look at the stepwise process of how to become an IPS officer after the 12^th standard in India:   

1. Enrol in a UG course and complete your undergraduate degree in any stream. Students who are awaiting results are also eligible.
2. Once you complete your UG degree, start preparing for the UPSC exam at least a year in advance from the next exam dates. 
3. Analyze the previous question papers and get yourself familiar with the pattern.
4. Try to complete the syllabus before the UPSC CSE exam notification is released. 
5. Fill out the UPSC form immediately as soon as the UPSC notification is out
6. The UPSC exam is held in three stages – preliminary exam, mains, and personality test  
7. It is important to clear each stage with good grades to get into the merit list
8. Once selected, the candidate is required to go through physical training at the academy before getting posted as an IPS

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IPS Officer 

Before aspirants start preparing for IPS, they must know the criticality of the position of IPS officers and the crucial responsibilities they must handle in their role. Among many crucial roles include crime investigation, law and order maintenance, managing internal security of the country, etc. Candidates require aptitude and skill sets to perform their role as an IPS officer responsibly. 

Below are the steps to follow to clear the UPSC CSE exam to become an IPS officer:

1. Syllabus and Study Materials

As a first essential step, carefully go through the syllabus and pick your study materials wisely while appearing for UPSC. This is an important step as the foundation of UPSC CSE preparation depends on the resources or study and reference materials you pick. 
 

2. Guidance or Coaching

It is not mandatory to join a coaching class. Many candidates might take guidance from seniors or mentors rather than joining coaching. However, those willing to join can enroll in any online or offline coaching class for guidance and direction.  
 

3. Study in a Disciplined Manner with Regular Revision

This is the most crucial aspect. You must adhere to regular studies for over 10 hours a day. Make notes, complete every topic well, and don’t miss lectures if you have enrolled in coaching.
 

4. Practice Mock Tests 

Participate in mock tests regularly to help you with time management and other skills to clear UPSC well. Evaluate performance in these mock tests and try to improve by working on weak points.
 

5. Prepare for the Different Stages of the Exam

As deemed necessary, modify your learning strategies as per the stage for which you are preparing like prelims, mains, etc. In Prelims, there are two qualifying papers to prepare for, while in mains there are nine such papers.
 

6. Clear the Stages with Good Marks to try for a Decent Ranking 

You may note that just scoring above the cut-off mark is not sufficient to crack IPS. You must achieve a decent rank by excelling in your exams and attaining high scores to become an IPS. 

Conclusion

Aspiring civil service candidates willing to learn about IPS officers and how to become an IPS officer must keep in mind that they need the utmost dedication to clear IPS. Indian Police Service is a prominent career choice and a wonderful option to build an excellent career. To be eligible to apply for IPS, you must complete your UG degree in any stream. If you are looking to pursue a UG degree online, Amity University Online is the best institute to enroll. Amity Online offers several lucrative career options and specializations in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for interested candidates to enroll. Visit the Amity Online portal to learn more.

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