The State Police Services (SPS), also simply known as State Police, are the police services under the control of respective state governments of the states and union territories of India.

State Police Service is known by different names in different states of India. For example, it is known as Tamil Nadu Police Service (TPS) in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Police Service (APPS) in Andhra Pradesh, Assam Police Service (APS) in Assam, Bihar Police Service (BPS) in Bihar, Provincial Police Service (PPS) in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala Police Service (KPS) in Kerala, etc. However, they all refer to the same state-level state police service responsible for maintaining law and order within their respective states.[1]

Description

The SPS officers are appointed by the state government through the State Public Service Commission (PSC) of the state. They are gazzeted officers of the state government. The State Police Service (SPS) is a state-level police service that operates within the respective states of india. The SPS officers are ranked below the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers but above the State Police Subordinate Service officers.

The SPS officers are responsible for supervising the work of the state police subordinate service officers and other lower-level police officers. Once appointed, they hold the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP).

They are given various responsibilities, including posting as Station House Officers (SHOs), Circle Officers (COs)/ Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPOs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl.SPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs), depending on their rank and experience.[2][3][4][5][6]

Recruitment

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The recruitment to this service is done by the respective State Governments, usually through State Public Service Commissions. Some of the posts are recruit by the Staff Selection Commission, the staff conducted the exam all over India and recruit according to eligibility. The recruitment to SPS is also on the same pattern as that for IPS. The only difference is that the recruitment of SPS officers is made by the State Public Service Commission concerned through usually a combined competitive examination for State Civil Services which in the case of IPS is through the All-India Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission. However, in case of Union Territory, recruitment to SPS is also made by Union Public Service Commission through the Civil Services Examination as one of the Group-A (Junior Branch) Services.

The recruitment process for State Police Services (SPS) varies from state to state. While some states have a direct recruitment process for SPS officers, others follow a promotion-based system.

In states that have a direct recruitment process, candidates are selected based on their performance in state-level competitive exams conducted by the respective State Public Service Commission. These exams typically consist of a written test, physical fitness test, and an interview. Upon clearing the selection process, candidates are appointed as SPS officers and undergo training at the police academy before being posted in various positions across the state.

On the other hand, in states such as Kerala, the recruitment process for SPS officers is based on promotion from within the state police force. State police requirement in large States like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh is greater as compared to the smaller States like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Sikkim and north-eastern States. After selection, which again is based upon the choice of service and merit of a candidate, selected candidates are required to undergo vigorous probationary training before getting posted as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). States with large number of population are arranging a specific recruitment program for specific recruitment. In June 2017, The Madhya Pradesh state arranged the examination of police constable recruitment through the professional examination board of Madhya Pradesh.

Ranks and insignia of SPS officers

Main article: Police ranks and insignia of India

State Police Service (SPS)

Hierarchical structure

Indian State Police Gazetted Officer Rank Insignia[7]
Insignia
Rank Superintendent of Police Additional Superintendent of Police Deputy Superintendent of Police
Abbreviation SP Addl.SP DSP/Dy.SP
  • Note: Gazetted officers belonging to Indian State Police Service(s) lie between ranks DSP and SP.
  • Officers usually undergo training at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy are awarded IPS to attain Assistant SP rank (1 year of service) but this varies from state to state.

Non-gazetted officers

Indian Police non-gazetted officers rank insignia[8][9]
Insignia No insignia
Rank Inspector Assistant inspector[a] Sub-inspector Assistant sub-inspector Head constable[b] Police Naik[c] Police constable
Abbreviation INSP/PI API SI ASI HC SC PC
  • Note: Colour pattern and size of chevrons may vary according to the different rules of several distinct Indian State Police services.


Insignia of Gazetted officers

Gazetted officers include all the Indian Police Service officers and all state police service officers.

Promotion to Indian Police Service

The Indian Police Service (IPS) of any state has two components, namely DR Quota and Promotion Quota. Direct recruit IPS officers come through the Civil Services Exam conducted by the UPSC, while State Police Service officers are inducted into the IPS against the Promotion Quota.

The process of appointment from the State Police Service to the IPS against the Promotion Quota is a lengthy process involving three stakeholders- the concerned State Government, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and the Union Government. The roles of these stakeholders are defined in the Indian Police Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, Indian Police Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, and IPS (Regulation of Seniority) Rules, 1988. The process begins with the Central Government determining the vacancies against the promotion quota of any state for a particular calendar year. The State Government then forwards a proposal to the UPSC containing the details/records of the State Police Service officers in the order of their seniority. The UPSC then convenes a Selection Committee Meeting, which scrutinizes the records/ACRs and other details of the State Police Service officers as per the provisions of Regulation 5(4) of the promotions Regulations.

The Committee records its recommendations in the form of ‘Minutes,' which are signed by each member and the Chairperson. These minutes are sent to the State Government concerned, which forwards them to the Central Government after its concurrence. The Central Government examines the minutes and conveys its concurrence to the UPSC. Finally, the Commission approves the minutes, and the Central Government, as the cadre controlling authority for the Indian Police Service, conveys its approval.[10][11][12][13]

List of state police services

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This rank exists only in the Maharashtra Police.
  2. ^ Shoulder insignia rank only used in the Maharashtra Police.
  3. ^ This rank is also known as senior constable, constable grade-I, and exists only in some state police forces.

References

  1. ^ Bureau, Bureaucracy Watch. "30 PPS officers gets promoted to IPS cadre in UP". PSU Watch. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  2. ^ "Kerala: Cops unhappy over promotion delay". The Times of India. 2021-01-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  3. ^ "UP to propose hike in promotion quota for state police in IPS". The Indian Express. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  4. ^ Kumar, S. Vijay (2018-03-14). "Non-cadre postings irk IPS officers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  5. ^ "• View topic - Can SP be a non-IPS". sylendrababu.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  6. ^ "Appointment by Promotion SPS to IPS Cadre".
  7. ^
  8. ^ "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  9. ^ "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "For IPS conferment, Kerala PHQ readies a list of tainted officers". OnManorama. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  11. ^ "20 officers of Telangana police conferred IPS rank". Telangana Today. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  12. ^ "UPSC invites state govt nominees for DPC for promotion of SPS to IPS officers". The Times of India. 2023-05-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  13. ^ "UPSC recommends elevation of 13 serving, 14 retired J&K police officers into IPS cadre - ET Government". ETGovernment.com. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
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