Supreme Court of India 

The Supreme Court of India is the country’s highest judicial court. It is the final court of appeal in the country. It is hence, an extremely important topic in the UPSC exam polity and governance sections. In this article, you can read all about the Supreme Court of India for the IAS exam.

Supreme Court History

• The Federal Court of India was created as per Government of India Act 1935.
• This court settled disputes between provinces and federal states and heard appeals against judgements of the high courts.
• After independence, the Federal Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were replaced by the Supreme Court of India, which came into being in January 1950.
• The Constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with one Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges.
• The number of SC judges was increased by the Parliament and currently, there are 34 judges including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Supreme Court of India – Functions

• It takes up appeals against the verdicts of the High Courts, other courts and tribunals.
• It settles disputes between various government authorities, between state governments, and between the centre and any state government.
• It also hears matters which the President refers to it, in its advisory role.
• The SC can also take up cases suo moto (on its own).
• The law that SC declares is binding on all the courts in India and on the Union as well as the state governments.

Supreme Court Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the SC is of three types:

1. Original
2. Appellate
3. Advisory

Jurisdiction Meaning

Jurisdiction is the authority given to a legal body like a court to administer justice within a defined field of responsibility.

The Supreme Court in India has three types of jurisdictions – original, appellate and advisory as provided in Articles 131, 133 – 136 and 143 respectively of the Indian Constitution.

Important exam related topics:

Original Jurisdiction of the SC in India

Original jurisdiction of a court refers to a matter for which the particular court is approached first. In the case of the Supreme Court in India, its original jurisdiction is covered under Article 131. It involves the following cases:

1. Any dispute between the Indian Government and one or more States.
2. Any dispute between the Indian Government and one or more States on one side and one or more States on the other side.
3. Any dispute between two or more States.
4. Article 32 of the Constitution provides original jurisdiction to the SC for matters regarding the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
5. The SC can issue writs, directions, or orders including writs in the nature of mandamus, habeas corpus, quo warranto, prohibition and certiorari.
6. The SC also has the power to direct the transfer of a criminal or civil case from the High Court in one State to the High Court in another State.
7. It can also transfer cases from one subordinate court to another State High Court
8. If the SC deems that cases involving the same questions of law are pending before it and one or more High Courts, and that these are significant questions of law, it can withdraw the cases before the High Court or Courts and dispose off all these cases itself.
9. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 gives the SC the authority to initiate international commercial arbitration.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Under this, the Supreme Court can hear cases only when they are appealed against a High Court order.

Advisory Jurisdiction

Under this, the President can request the Supreme Court to offer its opinion on any issue of law or fact.

Review Jurisdiction

This is covered under Article 137 and it gives SC the authority to review its judgements. There are two grounds on which a review is permitted. They are as follows:

1. If there has been an apparent error on the face of record leading to perversity of judgement, or
2. If a new evidence has been uncovered which was not available earlier despite the best attempt by the party or out of no fault of the party.

 Court Composition

• Including the CJI, there are 34 judges in the Supreme Court.
• The judges sit in benches of 2 or 3 (called a Division Bench) or in benches of 5 or more (called a Constitutional Bench) when there are matters of fundamental questions of the law is to be decided.

Procedure of Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India has powers to consult the President to regulate the practice and procedure of the Court.

The Constitutional Cases are usually decided by a bench consisting of five judges whereas other cases are decided by a bench of at least three judges.

Seat of Supreme Court

As per the Constitution of India, Delhi is declared as the seat of the Supreme Court of India. However, the Chief Justice of India has the power to assign another place (s) as the seat of Supreme Court. This is only an optional provision and not mandatory.

SC Judge Eligibility

As per Article 124, an Indian citizen who is below 65 years of age is eligible to be recommended for appointment as a judge of the SC if:

1. he/she has been a judge of one or more High Courts, for at least 5 years, or
2. he/she has been an advocate in one or more High Courts for at least 10 years, or
3. he/she is in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.

Independence of Judiciary

The Constitution has many provisions to ensure the judiciary’s independence. They are discussed below:

1. Security of tenure: The judges of the SC are given security of tenure. Once appointed, they will retain their office until the age of 65 years. They can be removed only by a presidential order on grounds of proven misbehaviour and/or incapacity. This requires a Special Majority according to Article 368. 
2. Salaries and allowances: The judges of the SC enjoy good salaries and allowances and these cannot be decreased except in the case of a financial emergency. The expenses of the High Court are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, which is not subject to vote in the state legislature.
3. Powers and Jurisdiction: The SC’s powers and jurisdiction can only be added by the Parliament and not be curtailed. 
4. The conduct of any judge of the Supreme Court in the discharge of his/her duties cannot be discussed in the legislature.
5. The SC has the power to punish any person for its contempt, as per Article 129.
6. Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive: A Directive Principle of State Policy says that the state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the state. According to Article 50, there shall be a separate judicial service free from executive control.

Directive Principles of State Policy(DPSP) 

Articles 36-51 under Part-IV of Indian Constitution deal with Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). They are borrowed from the constitution of Ireland which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution. DPSP and Fundamental Rights form the soul of the constitution and are also important topics for IAS Exam and its three stages- Prelims, Mains and Interview.

This article will solely discuss the Directive Principles of State Policy, its importance in the Indian Constitution and the history of its conflict with Fundamental Rights. 

What are the Directive Principles of State Policy?

The Sapru Committee in 1945 suggested two categories of individual rights. One being justiciable and the other being non-justiciable rights. The justiciable rights, as we know, are the Fundamental rights, whereas the non-justiciable ones are the Directive Principles of State Policy.

DPSP are ideals which are meant to be kept in mind by the state when it formulates policies and enacts laws. There are various definitions to Directive Principles of State which are given below:

• They are an ‘instrument of instructions’ which are enumerated in Government of India Act, 1935
• They seek to establish economic and social democracy in the country
• DPSPs are ideals which are not legally enforceable by the courts for their violation

Directive Principles of State Policy – Classification

Indian Constitution has not originally classified DPSPs but on the basis of their content and direction, they are usually classified into three types- Socialistic Principles, Gandhian Principles and, Liberal-Intellectual Principles.

The details of the three types of DPSPs are given below:

DPSP – Socialistic Principles
Definition: They are the principles that aim at providing social and economic justice and set the path towards the welfare state. Under various articles, they direct the state to:
Article 38	Promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order through justice—social, economic and political—and to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities
Article 39	Secure citizens: Right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens Equitable distribution of material resources of the community for the common good Prevention of concentration of wealth and means of production Equal pay for equal work for men and women Preservation of the health and strength of workers and children against forcible abuse Opportunities for the healthy development of children
Article 39A	Promote equal justice and free legal aid to the poor
Article 41	In cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, secure citizens: right to work Right to education Right to public assistance,
Article 42	Make provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
Article 43	Secure a living wage, a decent standard of living and social and cultural opportunities for all workers
Article 43A	Take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries
Article 47	Raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of people and to improve public health

DPSP – Gandhian Principles
Definition: These principles are based on Gandhian ideology used to represent the programme of reconstruction enunciated by Gandhi during the national movement. Under various articles, they direct the state to:
Article 40	Organise village panchayats and endow them with necessary powers and authority to enable them to function as units of self-government
Article 43	Promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operation basis in rural areas
Article 43B	Promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of co-operative societies
Article 46	Promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections of the society and to protect them from social injustice and exploitation
Article 47	Prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health
Article 48	Prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle and to improve their breeds

DPSP – Liberal-Intellectual Principles
Definition: These principles reflect the ideology of liberalism. Under various articles, they direct the state to:
Article 44	Secure for all citizens a uniform civil code throughout the country
Article 45	Provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years
Article 48	Organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines
Article 49	Protect monuments, places and objects of artistic or historic interest which are declared to be of national importance
Article 50	Separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State
Article 51	Promote international peace and security and maintain just and honourable relations between nations Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration

Directive Principles of State Policy notes about its classification is important for UPSC 2020 and aspirants should learn these with articles mentioned.

What are the new DPSPs added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976?

42nd Amendment Act, 1976 added four new Directive Principles in the list:

S.No	Article	New DPSPs
1	Article 39	To secure opportunities for the healthy development of children
2	Article 39A	To promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor
3	Article 43A	To take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries
4	Article 48A	To protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife

To read more on the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, aspirants may check the linked article.

Facts about Directive Principles of State Policy:

1. A new DPSP under Article 38 was added by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978, which requires the State to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities.
2. The 86th Amendment Act of 2002 changed the subject-matter of Article 45 and made elementary education a fundamental right under Article 21A. The amended directive requires the State to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.
3. A new DPSP under Article 43B was added by the 97th Amendment Act of 2011 relating to co-operative societies. It requires the state to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of co-operative societies.
4. The Indian Constitution under Article 37 makes it clear that ‘DPSPs are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the state to apply these principles in making laws.’

Criticism of Directive Principles of State Policy

The following reasons are responsible for the criticism of Directive Principles of State Policy:

1. It has no legal force
2. It is illogically arranged
3. It is conservative in nature
4. It may produce constitutional conflict between centre and state

What is the conflict between Fundamental Rights & DPSPs?

With the help of four court cases given below, candidates can understand the relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy:

Champakam Dorairajan Case (1951)

Supreme Court ruled that in any case of conflict between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs, the provisions of the former would prevail. DPSPs were regarded to run as a subsidiary to Fundamental Rights. SC also ruled that Parliament can amend Fundamental Rights through constitutional amendment act ti implement DPSPs.

Result: Parliament made the First Amendment Act (1951), the Fourth Amendment Act (1955) and the Seventeenth Amendment Act (1964) to implement some of the Directives.

Golaknath Case (1967)

Supreme Court ruled that Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights to implement Directive Principles of State Policy.

Result: Parliament enacted the 24th Amendment Act 1971 & 25th Amendment Act 1971 declaring that it has the power to abridge or take away any of the Fundamental Rights by enacting Constitutional Amendment Acts. 25th Amendment Act inserted a new Article 31C containing two provisions:

• • No law which seeks to implement the socialistic Directive Principles specified in Article 39 (b)22 and (c)23 shall be void on the ground of contravention of the Fundamental Rights conferred by Article 14 (equality before law and equal protection of laws), Article 19 (protection of six rights in respect of speech, assembly, movement, etc) or Article 31 (right to property).
  • No law containing a declaration for giving effect to such policy shall be questioned in any court on the ground that it does not give effect to such a policy.

Kesavananda Bharti Case (1973)

Supreme Court ruled out the second provision of Article 31C added by the 25th Amendment Act during Golaknath Case of 1967. It termed the provision ‘unconstitutional.’ However, it held the first provision of Article 31C constitutional and valid.

Result: Through the 42nd amendment act, Parliament extended the scope of the first provision of Article 31C. It accorded the position of legal primacy and supremacy to the Directive Principles over the Fundamental Rights conferred by Articles 14, 19 and 31.

Minerva Mills Case (1980)

Supreme Court held the extension of Article 31C made by the 42nd amendment act unconstitutional and invalid. It made DPSP subordinate to Fundamental Rights. Supreme Court also held that ‘the Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles.’

Supreme Court’s rulings following the case were:

• Fundamental Rights & DPSPs constitute the core of the commitment to social revolution.
• The harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy is anessential feature of the basic structure of the Constitution.
• The goals set out by the Directive Principles have to be achieved without the abrogation of the means provided by the Fundamental Rights.

Conclusion: Today, Fundamental Rights enjoy supremacy over the Directive Principles. Yet, Directive Principles can be implemented. The Parliament can amend the Fundamental Rights for implementing the Directive Principles, so long as the amendment does not damage or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution.

Directive Principles of State Policy – Facts relevant for UPSC Prelims

The table below mentions a few specific points about DPSPs that aspirants can take help from, for UPSC prelims:

DPSP for UPSC Prelims
What is its full form?	Directive Principles of State Policy
From which country is it borrowed?	Ireland (Which had copied it from Spanish Constitution)
How many articles are under DPSP?	Article 36-51 belong to DPSP
Which part in Indian Constitution deals with DPSP?	Part-IV belongs to DPSP
How many types of DPSP are there?	There are three types: 1.      Socialist 2.      Gandhian 3.      Liberal-Intellectual
Have Directive Principles ever amended?	Yes, 42nd Amendment Act, 44th Amendment Act, and 86th Amendment Act have added/deleted a few DPSPs.
Are DPSP justiciable?	No, DPSPs are non-justiciable in nature.
Are DPSP sub-ordinate to Fundamental Rights?	There is a balance between both. Fundamental Rights can be amended to implement Directive Principles until it does not harm basic structure of the Constitution.
Who described DPSP as ‘novel feature’ of Constitution?	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
From where does Indian DPSPs find its motivation?	Irish Home Rule Movement
What are the recent developments in favor of DPSPs?	There are various such acts enacted to enforce DPSP. They are: ·         Prevention of Atrocities Act (In favor of Article 46) ·         Minimum Wages Act (In favor of Article 43) ·         Consumer Protection Act ·         Equal Remuneration Act (In favor of Article 39)

All India Services - IAS, IPS and IFS

The All India Services comprises the three prestigious civil services of India and they are the Indian Administrative Service (IAS); Indian Police Service (IPS); and Indian Forest Service (IFS).

The common exceptional feature of the All India Services is that the candidates selected for these civil services are recruited by the Center (Union Government in federal polity), however, their services are allotted under various State Cadres and they have the accountability to serve both under the State and the Centre. Because of the federal polity of the country, this is regarded as one of the mechanisms that make the Union Government stronger than the State Governments.  The officers of these three civil services act in accordance with the All India Services Rules that includes paying, deportment, leave, several allowances and etc. To get into the All India services, candidates must clear the UPSC civil services exam. In this article, you will also read about the salary of IAS and IPS, and also the corresponding posts in IFS.

Start your UPSC 2020 preparation today!

Cadre Controlling Authority

The recruitment for IAS and IPS is conducted through the Civil Services Examination which is held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year. While for IFS, the preliminary examination is combined with the Civil Services Exam and the other stages of the exam are held separately. The candidates who are selected are recruited as officers and trained by the Central Government, and then allocated to different State cadres.

The cadre controlling authorities of the All India Services i.e. of IAS, IPS, and IFS are as follow:

All India Service	Cadre Controlling Authority
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)	Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Indian Police Service (IPS)	Ministry of Home Affairs
Indian Forest Service (IFoS)	Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

All India Services – Functions

Power, Purpose, and Responsibilities

The power, purpose, and responsibilities of these All India Services are described in the All India Services Act, 1951 which authorizes the Government of India with the consultation of State Governments to make guidelines and procedures for the service conditions and the recruitment of the people appointed to All India Services.

The All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968 governs the All India Services which specifies the code of conduct for Civil Servant overall.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the officers vary from junior civil servant officers who start with probation and as they go up in the hierarchical positions to the senior civil servant.

District Level	Divisional Level	State and Central levels
The responsibilities are related to matters of the district and all affairs of development.	The job is related to law and order to.	Framing of policy

Allocation, Division, and Cadres

The officers of All India Services are classified into cadres which are derived from various zones to which they are allocated to work.

Cadres

There are twenty-four cadres in the country and also there are three joint cadres: Assam-Meghalaya; Manipur-Tripura; and Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT).

*The cadre allocation policy has changed recently. Please check the official website.

The officers of the All India Services (AIS) namely, Indian Administrative Service (IAS); Indian Forest Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) are divided into state cadres.

During their probation, the All India Service Officers are allotted to their States and officers of the All India Services working with the Union Government are also posted on deputation for few years.

Almost two-third of the All India Services Officers who are allotted to the State Cadre is from outside the state and the remaining may be the original residents of the allocated State.

Once an officer is allocated to a State Cadre, he/she generally continues to work with that State Cadre during his/her whole service.

Candidates who are recruited are allocated to different cadres and on a need basis, may also be moved to Central Government jobs on deputation.

INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE (IAS)

The Indian Administrative Service is one of the All India Services among the other two i.e. the Indian Forest Service and Indian Police Service.

Candidates who are selected as IAS Officers are trained to manage Government affairs. Every civil servant is allotted to a particular office with policy framing and implementing as the major responsibility in that particular area.

The policy issues are framed, modified, and interpreted in this post under the direct supervision of the Administrative Office with the consent of the Minister. On the advice of the officer, the implementation of the policies is also done. The policy-making matters of the government mechanism depend on the civil servant rank.

The process of implementation includes supervision as well as visiting/touring. The allotment of huge funds to and by the field officers mandates supervision and the concerned officials are answerable to queries made in the Parliament.

RANKS OF THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE

Below given are the ranks that an IAS officer will hold during his tenure.

• Cabinet Secretary ranks at the top
• Secretary/Additional Secretary
• Joint Secretary
• Director
• Under Secretary
• Junior Scale Officers

The ranks are given to the civil servant based on their seniority in the civil services.

Junior Scale Officer

An IAS Officer starts his career in the state as a probationary officer for two years. During this two year, the officer spends at training schools, field offices, Secretariat, or in a District Magistrate’s Office.

She/he is appointed as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and has to take care of law, order and general administration like developmental work in the area which is allocated to her/him.

Senior Scale Officer

After the probationary period of 2 years as a junior scale officer, she/he moves to the senior scale where she/he functions as the District Magistrate, Managing Director of Public Enterprise or Director of a Department.

The Senior Scale comprises of the following designations:

• Senior Time Scale (Joint Secretary)
• Junior Administrative Grade (Additional Secretary)
• Selection Grade (Special Secretary)

The Senior Scale Officers are promoted as the Selection Grade Officers after 13 years of regular service.

Super Time Scale

The next promotion that a civil servant will be entitled within the States is the Commissioner-cum-Secretary and that would be after 16 years of regular service.

Above Super Time Scale

After 24 years of regular service, an IAS officer may be given on promotion as Principal Secretaries/Financial Commissioners in some states that entitle them to Above Super Time Scale.

REMARKABLE FEATURES OF IAS

As a civil servant, the officer also represents the Government of India in another country or in an international forum. An officer as a Deputy Secretary is also attributed to signing agreements on behalf of the Government.

Every State has many Secretaries/Principal Secretaries and only one Chief Secretary. In some States, the Secretaries designation are considered as more prestigious than others like the Finance Secretary, Home Secretary, Development Commissioners and enjoy the salary as the Principal Secretary.

The Chief Secretary in the State is the top rank that a civil servant can attain and the Chief Secretary may be assisted by Additional Chief Secretaries. While in some States/Cadres like New Delhi, the Financial Commissioner and other high ranking secretaries like Additional Chief Secretaries enjoy the same pay as the Chief Secretary.

In the District, the most senior person is the Collector or Deputy Commissioner (DC) or District Magistrate (DM). The Collector or Deputy Commissioner (DC) or District Magistrate (DM) handles the affairs of the District that includes the development functions.

The DM/C/DM necessarily visits all rural sectors to inspect specific projects, disputed sites and addresses the problems of people during the visit.

In the Division Level, the Divisional Commissioner is in charge of her/his division. Her/his responsibility is to take care of the law and order and general administration and development duties.

The Chairman of the Board of Revenue hears appeals against the Divisional Commissioner.

INDIAN FOREST SERVICE (IFS)

The Indian Forest Service is one of the All India Services along with the other two services namely Indian Police Service and Indian Administrative Service.

HISTORY

One of the earliest countries to have scientific forest management was India. The British established the Imperial Forest Department in 1864. The first Imperial Inspector General of Forests was a German named Dr. Dietrich Brandis. In 1867, the Imperial Forestry Service was organized. From 1867 to 1885, officers who were Imperial Inspector General of Forests were given training in France and Germany. From 1885 to 1905, they were trained at Cooper’s Hill London. From 1905 to 1926, training was done by the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh. From 1927 to 1932, the forest officers were given training at the Imperial Forest Research Institute (FRI) situated in Dehradun which was established in 1906. The Indian Forest College was set up in 1938 at Dehradun.

The Forestry was transferred to the provincial list by the Government of India Act 1935 until then it was managed by the federal government and afterwards which the recruitment to the Imperial Forestry Service was discontinued.

After Independence, the Indian Forest Service (IFS) (the present day IFS) was established in 1966 under the All India Services Act 1951 for safeguard, preservation, and restoration of forest sources.

The Forest Area is included in the Concurrent List and India has about an area of 635,400 km forests, which is 19.32 per cent of the country.

RANKS OF THE INDIAN FOREST SERVICE

The ranks of the Indian Forest Service are as given below:

• Probationary Officer
• Divisional Forest Officer(DFOs)
• Deputy Conservator of Forests, Conservator of Forests(CFs)
• Chief Conservator of Forests(CCFs)
• AdditionalPrincipal Chief Conservator of Forests(Addl.PCCFs)
• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests(PCCF) (highest post in a State)
• Director General of Forests (DGF – highest post at Centre and selected from amongst the senior-most PCCFs of states)

REMARKABLE FEATURES OF IFS

The candidates who are selected for IFS are trained at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. The officers are trained in such a way that they are hardened enough to serve in the most difficult terrains in the country.

The Indian Forest Service requires keen technical knowledge along with the excellent administrative ability to perform the duty.

In addition to getting entrusted with senior designations in the Central Secretariat, State Secretariats and various assignments under the Central Staffing Scheme, the IFS Officers also work in several International and National Organizations pertaining to the management of forests, wildlife, and environment such as

• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
• SAARC Forestry Centre, Forest Survey of India
• Wildlife Institute of India, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
• Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy(IGNFA)
• Directorate of Forest Education
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau(WCCB) and etc.

INDIAN POLICE SERVICE (IPS)

The Indian Police Service (IPS) being one of the All India Services is accountable for public safety, internal security, and law and order.

After independence (1948), the Imperial Police (IP) was replaced by the Indian Police Service. The Indian Police Service in itself is not a law enforcement agency but it is the body to which all the senior police officers belong to irrespective for whichever agency they work.

An IPS Officer faces several life-threatening and is imperilled to harsh conditions. The Director General of Police of the Indian Police Service is entrusted with the overall law and order of the entire State, while the Superintendent of Police for the entire District and the Deputy commissioner or the Commissioner of Police for Metropolitan Cities or the entire city respectively. An IPS officer as the Commissioner of Police enjoys magisterial powers.

The Indian Police Service (IPS) though not equal to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the only service in the country that comes close to the IAS considering the Power, Authority, and Speed in promotion whether at the State or in the Government of India.

RANKS OF THE INDIAN POLICE SERVICE (IPS)

The following are the ranks that an IPS officer takes charge as during her/his tenure in the service.

• Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sub-division for 2 years’ probation)

• Superintendent of PoliceorDeputy Commissioner of Police (After 4 years in service)

• Junior Administrative Grade (After 9 years in service)

• Selection Grade (After 13 years in service)

• Deputy Inspector General of PoliceorAdditional Commissioner of Police (After 14 years in service)

• Inspector General of Police(After 18 years in service)

• Additional Director General of Police(After 25 years in service)
• Finally, theDirector General of Police(after 30 years in service)

The Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police is the head of the entire police force of the State or Metropolitan City like Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, etc., and below him/her comes the Additional DGP or Special Police Commissioner. While the InspectorGeneral or Joint Commissioner of Police is the head of specialized police force like the Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch etc.

REMARKABLE FEATURES OF IPS

The Officers in Indian Police Service also work in national government agencies like

• Intelligence Bureau
• Research and Analysis Wing
• Central Bureau of Investigation and etc.

The IPS Officers also get to work in several PSUs like SAIL; GAIL; Indian Oil Corporation etc.

The IPS Officers also work At the State Secretariat and the Central Secretariat under the Central Staffing Scheme and in CAPFs like the Director General of Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Central Industrial Security Force.

The IPS Officers also get opportunities to work in various International Organisations such as Consulates (Foreign Missions), United Nations (UN), International Cricket Council, Interpol and Embassies across the World in several dimensions such as Ambassador, Consul, Consul General, Deputy High Commissioner Minister, First Secretary, and High Commissioner.

EQUIVALENT RANKS OF ALL INDIA SERVICES (IAS, IPS, AND IFS)

Sl. No.	Indian Administrative Service	Indian Police Service	Indian Forest Service	Pay scale
1	Sub Divisional Magistrate (States)	Deputy Superintendent of Police	Assistant Conservator of Forests	15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 5400
2	Under/Deputy Secretary to Government of India/Additional Deputy Commissioner/Joint Collector/Additional District Magistrate(States)	Additional Superintendent of Police	Divisional Forest Officer/Deputy Conservator of Forests	15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 6600
3	Deputy Secretary to Government of India /Deputy Commissioner/Collector/District Magistrate(States)	Superintendent of Police	Divisional Forest Officer/Deputy Conservator of Forests (India)	15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 7600
4	Director to Government of India/Deputy Commissioner/Collector/District Magistrate(States) (Selection Grade)	Senior Superintendent of Police	Deputy Conservator of Forests (India)/Director of Forestry(Selection Grade)	37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 8700
5	Divisional Commissioner in a Division in states	Deputy Inspector General of Police	Conservator of Forests	37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 8900
6	Joint Secretary to Government of India/Secretary to State Govt.	Inspector General of Police	Chief Conservator of Forests	37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 10,000
7	Additional Secretary to Government ofIndia/Principal Secretary to State Govt.	Additional Director General of Police	Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests	HAG scale of 67,000-79,000
8		Director General of Police	Principal Chief Conservator of Forests	HAG + scale of 75,500–80,000
9	Secretary to Government of India/Chief Secretary of State	Director General of Police (State Police Chief)/Director Intelligence Bureau/Secretary RAW (R)/Director CBI/Director’s General of CAPF’s e.g. BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB etc./Director National Police Academy	Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Forces (HoFF), Director General of Forests	80,000 (fixed)
10	Cabinet Secretary	No equivalent	No equivalent