You are a graduate. “Now what”? Does that scare you? For those of you who have their plans ready either for further studies or got an offer letter in hand, it might not be too scary. But for those of my friends out there who are confused like I was when I became a graduate, here is something interesting.

UPSC or State Services exams- that’s right. And I know your dad has been asking you to give it a try (My dad did). You might not have thought much about it. You can start thinking now, as we bring to you all the information about the career path towards one of the most prestigious career options. This time, we will discuss how to join the Police services as an IPS officer, or as a SPS officer. To become an IPS officer, you will need to take the UPSC Civil Services exam and to become a Maharashtra State Police Officer; you need to take the MPSC State Services Exam.

 Application: The notification for the UPSC and the MPSC Exam is out in the newspapers (in November/December for UPSC) every year, along with the syllabus. Purchase the application form from any big post office. For appearing in the UPSC exam you need to be a graduate in any discipline, and should fall within the age bracket of 21 to 30 years (for UPSC) or 19 - 28 years (for MPSC) as on 1st August of the year of Examination.  For MPSC, Fluency in Marathi is a must. The entire process of getting selected as an IPS officer takes one full year.

UPSC CIVIL SERVICES PRELIM Exam: The Preliminary examination is a written exam, conducted in May and comprises of two objective papers, General Studies and an optional subject carrying 150 and 300 marks respectively and each paper is of two hours duration. The optional subject has to  be chosen from a set of prescribed 23 subjects. The results of the preliminary exams are declared in July-August and the successful candidates are called for the main examinations.

MPSC STATE SERVICES PRELIM Exam: The preliminary examination is conducted in July and comprises of two objective papers, General Studies and an optional subject which has to be chosen from approximately a set of 12 prescribed subjects. Visit www.mpsc.gov.in for further information on the subjects.

UPSC Main Exam: The main examination is carried out in either October or November and comprises of 9 papers in all.

MPSC Main Exam: The main examination is held in November-December. You will need to take 6 papers in all. More information on these subjects is available on their website. Each paper is 3 hrs duration.

INTERVIEW Calls: The calls for interviews are sent out by March-April of the following year and the interviews take place in the month of April-May. You have to look out for the announcement of the final dates in the local newspaper on the websites: www.upsc.gov.in & www.mpsc.gov.in. 

The main exam and the interview score determines your merit ranking depending on which you get the desired service stream like IPS, IAS, IFS etc. Once you have selected IPS as your choice, you will be sent to National Police Academy, where you will undergo a rigorous training schedule for 44 weeks in both Indoor and Outdoor subjects. After the training you will be posted as an ASP in any state, who is reported to by sub-ranks such as Constables, Sub-Inspectors, DSP. An IPS can then become DCP and in due course of time can rise to the levels of Director General of Police in a State or DG of any other Central Para-military force. Officers selected from state service exams are placed as an ACP (DSP), and on prescribed satisfactory service in the SPS, the officers are nominated to the IPS.

The greatest thing about civil service is the job security. Special facilities include subsidized accommodation, telephone and transport facilities, medical benefits, leave travel concession, etc. After retirement, there are very good social welfare facilities. Last but not the least is the immense satisfaction one derives at being able to participate in the development process of the country.