Police Ranks
Police GK · पुलिस रैंक
📋Quick Overview
India's police ranks are divided into three broad categories: State Police (headed by DGP), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and specialized forces like Delhi Police (under Central Government). Understanding ranks, insignia, and hierarchy is one of the most frequently asked topics in police recruitment exams.
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IPS (Indian Police Service) is an All India Service. IPS officers are appointed as ASP and above in State Police and as DIG and above in CAPFs.
📖State Police Rank Hierarchy
| Rank | Abbreviation | Service Cadre | Reporting To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director General of Police | DGP | IPS | State Govt / MHA |
| Additional Director General of Police | ADGP | IPS | DGP |
| Inspector General of Police | IG | IPS | ADGP |
| Deputy Inspector General | DIG | IPS | IG |
| Superintendent of Police | SP | IPS | DIG |
| Senior Superintendent of Police | SSP | IPS | DIG |
| Additional Superintendent of Police | ASP | IPS (probationer) | SP/SSP |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police | DSP | State PCS | ASP/SP |
| Inspector of Police | Inspector | Direct/Promoted | DSP |
| Sub-Inspector | SI | Direct/Promoted | Inspector |
| Assistant Sub-Inspector | ASI | Promoted from HC | SI |
| Head Constable | HC | Promoted from Constable | ASI |
| Constable | Constable | Direct Recruitment | HC |
| Rank | Abbreviation | Reporting To |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner of Police | CP | MHA (Delhi Police) |
| Special Commissioner of Police | Special CP | CP |
| Joint Commissioner of Police | Joint CP | Special CP |
| Additional Commissioner of Police | Additional CP | Joint CP |
| Deputy Commissioner of Police | DCP | Additional CP |
| Assistant Commissioner of Police | ACP | DCP |
📝Central Police Forces (CAPF) Ranks
- •CAPFs include: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles, NSG, NDRF.
- •CAPF hierarchy: Director General (DG) → Additional DG (ADG) → Inspector General (IG) → Deputy IG (DIG) → Commandant → Deputy Commandant → Assistant Commandant → Inspector → SI → ASI → HC → Constable.
- •DIG and above in CAPFs are IPS-cadre officers; Commandant and below are from the respective force.
- •Delhi Police is under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), unlike other state police forces.
- •IPS officers are recruited through UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE); they join as ASP on probation.
- •State PCS officers are recruited through State Public Service Commissions (like UPPSC, BPSC, RPSC) and join as DSP.