Police ranks and insignia of India

A display of the various ranks of the Indian police and their respective uniform at the National Police Memorial and Museum in New Delhi.

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

Indian Police Service gazetted officers rank insignia ^{[5] [6] [7]}

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

Note 1: The rank insignia of DGP, Spl.DGP, Addl.DGP is the same. Note 2: The equivalent rank to the ASP (Asst.SP) in State Police Services is the deputy superintendent of police (DSP/DySP). Note 3: The commissioner of police is a post typically held by DIG and above rank officers.

State Police Services rank insignia ^[8]

Insignia

Rank

Superintendent of police [c]

Additional superintendent of police [d]

Deputy superintendent of police [e]

Abbreviation

SP

Addl.SP

DSP/Dy.SP

Note: Gazetted officers in State Police Services (SPS) begins from DSP and above. [9] In the Indian Police Service (IPS), rank starts from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), which is equivalent to DSP in state services.

Indian Police non-gazetted officers rank insignia ^{[10] [11]}

Insignia

No insignia

Rank

Inspector of Police

Assistant Police Inspector [f]

Sub-Inspector

Sergeant (Kolkata Police)

Assistant Sub-Inspector

Head Constable [g]

Senior Constable [h]

Police constable

Abbreviation

INSP

API

SI

Sgt

ASI

HC

SC

PC

The rank of Sergeant is used in India only in the Bihar Police and the Kolkata Police The One Five Pointed Star for the rank of Inspector is used by Police forces of 7 states viz. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura. This is because Inspectors of Police in these 7 states are Gazetted Officers. However, the Kolkata Police uses the Four Pointed Star of the Order of Bath for the ranks of Inspector and Assistant Commissioner of Police instead of Five Pointed Star. For the ranks of ASI, SI/Sergeant and Deputy Commissioner of Police, the usual Five Pointed Star is used Colour pattern and size of chevrons may vary according to the different rules of several distinct Indian State Police services.

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.

State Armed Police Rank Structure

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

Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, IPS, inspecting the Valedictory Parade of IPS officers at SVPNPA, Hyderabad.

Law enforcement in India is a state subject, and police organisation varies across states, though a general structure is followed nationwide.

Flags and stars on official cars of senior IPS officers.

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

1. Rank insignia of DGP is similar to Additional DGP.
2. 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.
3. In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is "Commandant.
4. In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is Deputy Commandant
5. In an armed police battalion, the equivalent rank is Assistant Commandant.
6. This rank exists only in the Maharashtra Police.
7. Shoulder insignia rank only used in the Maharashtra Police.
8. This rank is also known as senior constable, constable grade-I, and exists only in some state police forces.

References

1. "Police Acts" (PDF).
2. "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police . Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 Feb 2024. Retrieved 14 Feb 2024.
3. "Governance of Andhra police". Kerala Police . Retrieved 14 August 2017.
4. "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police . Retrieved 15 August 2017.
5. "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police . Retrieved August 15, 2017.
6. "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police . Retrieved August 14, 2017.
7. "Governance of Kerala Police". Kerala Police . Retrieved August 14, 2017.
8. • "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.
9. "Nuh Police, Government of Haryana". mewat.haryanapolice.gov.in. Haryana Police . Retrieved 14 May 2024.
10. "Police Ranks" (PDF). Maharashtra Police . Retrieved August 14, 2017.
11. "Police Ranks and Badges". Odisha Police . Retrieved August 15, 2017.