IPS Exam - Complete Details About Indian Police Service Exam

The Indian Police Service is one of the three All India Services, along with the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Forest Service. The IPS Exam is conducted as part of the UPSC Civil Services Exam, and candidates are shortlisted based on their final ranks.

The IPS is not a security force, but it provides commanders to take up higher-level positions in the state police machinery and the Central Armed Police Forces. IPS officers are employed by both the Central Government and the respective States. They carry a lot of responsibility and enjoy significant perks. The IPS in its modern form was established in 1948, when the British-era Indian (Imperial) Police was replaced.

IPS Exam Overview

IPS exam or the UPSC Civil Services exam is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission in three levels - Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Here is a brief overview of the IPS Exam:

Once a candidate has passed the CSE and been selected for the IPS, they undergo a rigorous training program at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad. The NPA training program covers a wide range of topics, including law, criminology, police science, and physical training.

After completing their training at the NPA, IPS officers are posted to different states and Union Territories across India. They can be assigned a variety of roles, such as District Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police (CID), and Commissioner of Police.

IPS Exam Date 2025

According to UPSC Calendar 2025, the UPSC IPS Exam is scheduled to be held on the following dates:

• UPSC Preliminary Examination - 25 May 2025
• UPSC Main Examination - 22 August 2025 (lasting for 7 days)
• UPSC Interview - after the Mains exam result is announced.

IPS Exam Question Papers

The IPS exam question papers are a valuable resource for candidates who are preparing for the exam. The question papers can help candidates to understand the format of the exam, the types of questions asked, and the level of difficulty of the questions.

Candidates can also use the IPS exam question papers to practise answering questions and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. By practising with previous year's question papers, candidates can improve their time management skills and develop strategies for answering different types of questions.

• IPS Exam Prelims GS Paper 1 2024
• CSAT Question Paper 2024
• Main GS Paper 1 2024
• Main GS Paper 2 2024
• Main GS Paper 3 2024
• Main GS Paper 4 2024

IPS Eligibility

To become an IPS Officer, you must meet the following eligibility criteria set by the UPSC and clear the IPS exam that is the Civil Services Examination:

• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen.
• Age Limit: You must be at least 21 years old and under the maximum age limit, which varies depending on your category and whether you have a benchmark physical disability.
• Minimum Educational Qualification: You must have a university degree (graduate degree) from a recognized university.
• Number of Attempts: You can take the IPS exam up to 6 times if you are in the general or EWS category, 9 attempts if you belong to the OBC Category and an unlimited number of attempts if you belong to the SC/ST Category.
• Restriction on Applying: If you have already been appointed as an IAS or IFS officer, you are not eligible to apply for the IPS exam.
• Physical Standards: You must meet the physical standards specified in the Rules for Examination.

IPS Exam Pattern 

The IPS Exam 2025 is conducted in three stages:

• UPSC Preliminary Examination: It is an objective based examination held in two parts- General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). GS Paper I is counted for merit and the CSAT Paper is qualifying in nature. Once you qualify the UPSC Prelims Cut-Off, you are eligible to appear for UPSC Main Examination Stage.
• UPSC Main Examination: This Exam is Descriptive in nature. There are 9 papers in total.
• Interview: If you do well in the Main Examination, you'll be called for an interview. This is a chance for the examiners to understand your personality and suitability for a police officer role.

If you perform well in all three stages, you can become an IPS officer based on your ranking and performance. IPS officers are responsible for law enforcement and maintaining order in various parts of India.

Roles and Responsibilities of an IPS Officer

The Indian Police Service is a federal agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. IPS officers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Border security and counter-terrorism
• Maintaining public peace and order
• Crime prevention and investigation
• VIP security
• Railway policing
• Anti-smuggling and drug trafficking
• Tackling economic offenses and corruption in public life
• Disaster management
• Enforcing environmental laws and socio-economic legislation
• Serving in high-level posts in Indian intelligence agencies, such as the CBI, R&AW, IB, and CID
• Leading and commanding federal law enforcement agencies, civil and armed police forces, and central armed police forces (BSF, ITBP, CRPF, NSG, and CISF)
• Serving as heads of departments in policy making roles in central and state government ministries and departments, as well as public sector undertakings
• Interacting and coordinating closely with other All India Services, the Indian Army, and the armed forces

IPS Salary as per Ranks

IPS Officers in India start with a monthly salary of Rs 56,100, excluding dearness allowance (DA), house rent allowance (HRA), and other allowances. This is based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. The table below shows the IPS salary scale based on rank:

IPS Syllabus

The IPS Exam is a comprehensive examination that assesses candidates for various All India Services and Central Civil Services in India. The syllabus for the IPS Exam is extensive and covers a wide range of subjects. Below is an overview of the IPS Exam syllabus:

IPS Exam Prelims Syllabus

Paper-I: General Studies (200 marks)

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography
• Indian Polity and Governance
• Economic and Social Development
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
• General Science

Paper-II: CSAT (General Studies Paper II) (200 marks)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)

IPS Syllabus for Mains

The Main Examination consists of nine papers, including two qualifying papers (A and B), and seven merit-based papers (I to VII).

Qualifying Papers:

• Paper-A: Indian Language (Qualifying)
• Candidates have to choose one of the Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Paper-B: English (Qualifying)

Merit-Based Papers:

• Paper-I: Essay (250 marks)
• Paper-II: General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) (250 marks)
• Paper-III: General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations) (250 marks)
• Paper-IV: General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) (250 marks)
• Paper-V: General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) (250 marks)
• Paper-VI: Optional Subject – Paper 1 (250 marks)
• Paper-VII: Optional Subject – Paper 2 (250 marks)

Personality Test (Interview)

• Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for an interview. This interview assesses the candidate's personality, leadership qualities, and suitability for a career in civil services. It carries 275 marks. 

FAQs on IPS Exam

What is the qualification for IPS exam?

To qualify for the IPS exam, candidates need a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. They must be Indian citizens and meet specific age criteria. Successful candidates must also clear the rigorous civil services examination conducted by the UPSC and meet physical and medical standards to become IPS officers.

What are the 9 papers in the IPS exam?

The IPS (Indian Police Service) exam is part of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), which includes nine papers. These papers are as follows:

• Paper-A: Indian Language (Qualifying)
• Paper-B: English (Qualifying)
• Paper-I: Essay
• Paper-II: General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)
• Paper-III: General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations)
• Paper-IV: General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)
• Paper-V: General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
• Paper-VI: Optional Subject – Paper 1
• Paper-VII: Optional Subject – Paper 2

These papers are part of the Main Examination stage of the UPSC CSE, and candidates must qualify in all of them to be considered for the interview stage and, ultimately, selection into the Indian Police Service.

Can 12th pass apply for IPS?

No, 12th pass cannot apply for IPS. To be eligible for the IPS exam, you must have a graduate degree from a recognized university. You can apply for the IPS exam after completing your bachelor's degree in any discipline.

The IPS exam is conducted by the UPSC as part of the Civil Services Exam. The CSE is a competitive exam that is held annually to recruit candidates for various positions in the Indian government, including the IPS.

What are the subjects for the IPS exam?

The subjects for the IPS exam are the same as the subjects for the Civil Services Exam, which is conducted by the UPSC. The CSE is a competitive exam that is held annually to recruit candidates for various positions in the Indian government, including the IPS.

The subjects for the IPS exam are divided into two categories:

• General Studies: This category includes four papers:
• Paper I: General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, World History, and Geography)
• Paper II: General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations)
• Paper III: General Studies III (Economy, Science, and Technology, Environment, and Biodiversity)
• Paper IV: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
• Optional Subject: Candidates must choose one optional subject from a list of 48 subjects. The list of optional subjects includes subjects such as history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, and public administration.

The IPS exam is a very competitive exam, and candidates need to be well-prepared in order to succeed.