Police ranks and insignia of India
Police services in India comprises the Indian Police Service (IPS), DANIPS, and Pondicherry Police Service recruited by the central government, along with various State Police Services (SPS) recruited by state governments. As policing is a state subject, the structure and organisation of police forces vary across states. In most state police forces, ranks below Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) are considered subordinates, while DSP and above are supervisory ranks.[1] These officers are organised in a structured hierarchical order.
Ranks of law enforcement in India
The ranks, posts, and designations of all police officers vary from state to state as police and law and order is a state matter. But, generally the following pattern is observed:[2][3][4]
- Gazetted officers
| Insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Director General of Police | Additional Director General of Police[a] | Inspector General of Police | Deputy Inspector General of Police | Superintendent of Police (Selection Grade) [b] | Superintendent of Police | Additional superintendent of police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant superintendent of police (probationary for two years) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary for one year) | ||||||||||
| Abbreviation | DGP | ADGP | IGP | DIGP | SP (SG) | SP | Addl.SP | ASP | ASP | ASP | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Superintendent of police[c] | Additional superintendent of police[d] | Deputy superintendent of police[e] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbreviation | SP | Addl.SP | DSP/Dy.SP | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insignia | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Inspector of Police | Inspector / Circle Inspector[f] | Assistant Police Inspector[g] | Sub-Inspector | Sergeant (Kolkata Police) | Assistant Sub-Inspector | Head Constable[h] | Senior Constable[i] | Police constable | ||||||||
| Abbreviation | INSP | INSP / CO | API | SI | Sgt | ASI | HC | SC | PC | ||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
State/UT Armed Police Cadre
- Leadership positions of State Armed Police are typically held by officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre. Their hierarchy includes DIG, IGP, ADGP, and DGP – same as in civil police
- Rank titles and designations vary across Indian states. The rank of '''Lance Naik''' is **not present in all states** and may be found only in select armed battalions or paramilitary-pattern forces.
| Gazetted Officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commandant | Deputy Commandant / Second-In Command | Assistant Commandant / Company Commander | ||
| Equivalent: Superintendent of Police | Equivalent: Additional Superintendent of Police | Equivalent: Deputy superintendent | ||
| Non-Gazetted Officers (NCOs) and Enlisted Ranks | ||||
| Inspector (Armed) / Platoon Commander | Sub-Inspector (Armed) / Section Commander | Assistant Sub-Inspector (Armed) | Head Constable / Havildar | Lance Naik/Naik (Intermediate rank) |
| Equivalent: Inspector | Equivalent: Sub-Inspector | Equivalent: Assistant Sub-Inspector | Equivalent: Head Constable | Equivalent: None (intermediate post; varies by state) |
| Armed Police Constable / Sepoy / Rifleman No insignia | ||||
Organisational structure and roles
Overview
Law enforcement in India is a state subject, and police organisation varies across states, though a general structure is followed nationwide.
Ministry of Home Affairs
The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees internal security and policing and controls the Indian Police Service (IPS). The Ministry is headed by the Home Secretary, a senior IAS officer. IPS officers are recruited either through the national Civil Services Examination or by promotion from State Police Services after state-level selection.
State Home Department
Each state’s Home Department handles law and order, internal security, and police administration. It is headed by a Principal Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary, who supervises state police and related agencies.
State police structure
Every state police force is headed by a Director General of Police (DGP), assisted by Additional or Special DGPs for key divisions like Law & Order, Crime, or Intelligence. Large forces are divided into zones, ranges, and districts, while metropolitan areas function under the Commissionerate system.
Commissionerates are led by a Commissioner of Police (CP), assisted by Joint and Deputy Commissioners. Outside commissionerates, the hierarchy generally follows:
- Zone: ADG/IGP
- Range: IG/DIG
- District: SP/SSP
- Subdivision: DSP/ASP (SDPO or Circle Officer)
- Police Station: Inspector or Sub-Inspector (SHO)
Armed Police
State Armed or Reserve Police units are headed by officers of ADG rank. Each battalion is commanded by a Commandant (SP rank), assisted by a Deputy Commandant and Assistant Commandants (DSP rank).
See also
- Central Armed Police Forces ranks and insignia of India
- Paramilitary forces ranks and insignia of India
- Army ranks and insignia of India
- Air Force ranks and insignia of India
- Naval ranks and insignia of India
- Coast Guard ranks and insignia of India
- Border Roads Organisation ranks and insignia of India
Notes
- ^ Rank insignia of DGP is similar to Additional DGP.
- ^ The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is a post, not a rank, typically held by an SP (selection grade or junior grade) in states like Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
- ^ In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is "Commandant.
- ^ In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is Deputy Commandant
- ^ In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is Assistant Commandant.
- ^ Inspector or Circle Inspector with One Five-Pointed Star insignia exists in West Bengal Police.
- ^ This rank exists only in the Maharashtra Police.
- ^ Shoulder insignia rank only used in the Maharashtra Police.
- ^ This rank is also known as senior constable, constable grade-I, and exists only in some state police forces.
References
- ^ "Police Acts" (PDF).
- ^ "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 Feb 2024. Retrieved 14 Feb 2024.
- ^ "Governance of Andhra police". Kerala Police. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ "Governance of Kerala Police". Kerala Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^
- "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- "Governance of Kerala Police". Kerala Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- "Kerala: Cops unhappy over promotion delay". The Times of India. January 6, 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- "Can SP be a non-IPS". sylendrababu.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- Kumar, S. Vijay (March 14, 2018). "Non-cadre postings irk IPS officers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Nuh Police, Government of Haryana". mewat.haryanapolice.gov.in. Haryana Police. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police. Retrieved August 15, 2017.