HowIndiaEarns

Government jobPay Level 10Group AGazetted

IPS Officer (Indian Police Service)

आईपीएस अधिकारी (भारतीय पुलिस सेवा)

All India Service via the UPSC Civil Services Exam — leads district police and later state and central police organisations.

Indian Police Service · Ministry of Home Affairs (cadre controlling authority) · central government

In-hand pay at joining, per month

₹92,000–₹1,02,000

Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.

Exam
UPSC CSE
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
21–32 years
Transfers
Within the state
Work hours
Irregular and long; on call at all hours
Probation
2 years, including training at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad

Estimated in-hand / month

₹97,054

Gross ₹1,06,740 · CTC ≈ ₹14.3 lakh/yr

Level 10

Where are you posted?

Joining

IPS Officer (Indian Police Service) · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.

New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.

What you will actually do

  • Commanding the police of a sub-division and later a district
  • Maintaining law and order during protests, festivals and elections
  • Supervising investigation of serious crime
  • Managing police personnel: postings, discipline and welfare
  • Heading specialised units such as crime branch, intelligence, traffic or armed battalions
  • Serving in central organisations such as CBI, IB, NIA and the CAPFs on deputation

A typical day

As a district Superintendent of Police you begin with the overnight crime report and calls from station officers. The day brings a crime review meeting, visits to a scene of a serious offence, a round of complaints from the public, and coordination with the Collector on bandobast. Evenings are rarely free; a communal flare-up or a major accident means you go to the spot at once. You carry the phone everywhere, including on leave.

Stress5/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing5/5
LittleConstant
Field work5/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. IPS Officer (Indian Police Service) (joining)

    Pay Level 10

    ₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-hand

  2. Senior Time Scale (Additional SP / SP)

    After 4 years · Level 11 · via dpc

    ₹1,02,000–₹1,19,000 in-hand

  3. Junior Administrative Grade and Selection Grade (SP / SSP)

    After 9 and 13 years · Level 13 · via dpc

    ₹1,66,000–₹1,87,000 in-hand

  4. Deputy Inspector General

    After 14 years · Level 13A · via dpc

    ₹1,74,000–₹1,96,000 in-hand

  5. Inspector General

    After 18 years · Level 14 · via dpc

    ₹1,88,000–₹2,12,000 in-hand

  6. Additional DG / Director General of Police

    After 25–30 years · Level 16 · via dpc

    ₹2,49,000–₹2,82,000 in-hand

Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.

How to get in

UPSC CSEOnce a year

Union Public Service Commission

  1. 1.Preliminary examination (two objective papers)
  2. 2.Main examination (nine descriptive papers)
  3. 3.Personality test (interview)

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply for the preliminary exam. Age 21–32. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years. General candidates get 6 attempts, OBC 9, and SC/ST have no attempt limit within the age limit.

Physical standards: Minimum height 165 cm for men and 150 cm for women (160 cm and 145 cm for ST and some other groups), chest 84 cm for men with 5 cm expansion, and prescribed vision standards.

The good

  • Command of a large force early in your career
  • Direct impact on public safety
  • Variety, from district policing to investigation and intelligence

The hard parts

  • Constant stress and risk, with blame for anything that goes wrong
  • Political interference and frequent transfers
  • Family life is heavily affected

Postings

A state cadre is allotted at entry. You serve as ASP or SDPO, then SP of districts, then in range, zone and headquarters posts in that state. Central deputation to agencies and forces is common later.

Government housing, usually with official transport in field postingsNPS with a 14% government contributionStudy leave and funded mid-career trainingCentral or state medical coverLeave Travel Concession (LTC)Uniform allowance and security staff in field postings

Questions people ask

What is the in-hand salary of IPS Officer (Indian Police Service)?+

IPS Officer (Indian Police Service) is a Pay Level 10 post with a starting basic pay of ₹56,100. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹92,000–₹1,02,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.

What is the qualification and age limit for IPS Officer (Indian Police Service)?+

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply for the preliminary exam. Age: 21–32 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years. General candidates get 6 attempts, OBC 9, and SC/ST have no attempt limit within the age limit.

Which exam do I need to clear for IPS Officer (Indian Police Service)?+

UPSC CSE (Union Public Service Commission).

Are there extra physical requirements for IPS?+

Yes. Height, chest and vision standards apply and are checked at the medical examination after the interview.

Compare with similar posts

IPS Officer vs IAS OfficerIPS Officer vs Assistant CommandantIPS Officer vs Police Sub-Inspector

IAS Officer (Indian Administrative Service)

आईएएस अधिकारी (भारतीय प्रशासनिक सेवा)

Pay Level 10

All India Service via the UPSC Civil Services Exam — runs district administration and later heads departments and ministries.

₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-handUPSC CSE

Assistant Commandant (CAPF)

सहायक कमांडेंट (केंद्रीय सशस्त्र पुलिस बल)

Pay Level 10

Group A gazetted officer via the UPSC CAPF exam — commanding a company in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP or SSB.

₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-handUPSC CAPF

Police Sub-Inspector (Maharashtra)

पुलिस उप निरीक्षक (महाराष्ट्र)

S-14: 38,600–1,22,800

Group B (non-gazetted) officer in Maharashtra Police via MPSC — investigating cases and supervising staff at a police station.

Basic ₹38,600–₹1,22,800MPSC Combined Group B

Books to prepare for UPSC CSE

  • Indian Polity

    M. Laxmikanth (McGraw Hill)

    The one polity book almost every serious aspirant uses. Dense; plan on several readings.

    See on Amazon

  • A Brief History of Modern India

    Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum)

    Concise modern history in a factual, revision-friendly format.

    See on Amazon

  • India's Struggle for Independence

    Bipan Chandra

    The narrative behind the freedom movement. Longer than Spectrum; read it for understanding and for Mains.

    See on Amazon

All 8 books for UPSC Civil Services, Forest Service, CAPF and EPFO

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Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.