IPS or the Indian Police Service is one of India’s most prestigious civil services. Usually, the recruitment to various civil jobs is done through the UPSC examination in our country. But, the IPS recruitments are held independently mostly because physical ability testing is a mandatory section for IPS positions. The candidates who appear in the exam and qualify for the same will be designated various cadres and posts based on their merit, credibility, rank, and physical abilities.
Women in the police force
Representation of women in various fields of Indian administration is a highly discussed issue. While the government of India wants at least 33% representation of women in the Indian police force, various reports and studies depict a different picture altogether. Currently, around 16% of our country’s police force has female officers. The recruitment process for women IPS officers is almost the same as that of male IPS officers, with the only difference being the IPS physical eligibility.
IPS selection procedure
The selection process for IPS is divided into three tiers:
- Civil Services Preliminary Exam
- Civil Services Mains Exam
- Interview or Personality Test
Let us now decode each of these sections in detail.
Civil Services Preliminary Exam
The first tier of selection is the Preliminary Examination. The preliminary examination, also known as prelims, consists of two papers – Paper I and CSAT Paper II. The prelims are just a filter step for the candidates. The marks obtained by candidates in their preliminary exams will not be considered during the final merit list preparation. The first tier of prelims is like a qualifying round, and the questions are in MCQ format.
Civil Services Mains Exam
Candidates who pass the preliminary stage can opt for the IPS mains exam. Check the structure of the IPS main exam to become one of the best women IPS officers.
The civil services for IPS consist of 9 papers. These are
- One paper for an essay,
- Two optional papers (candidates will decide the subjects),
- Four General Studies papers, and
- Two language papers
The candidates who pass the IPS mains examination will be further summoned for the interview or the personality tests. Along with qualifying in the three sections of the IPS exam – prelims, mains, and interview test, the candidates must fulfill all the other criteria for the civil service examination. The final round of the merit list depends upon the candidate’s score in the mains exam and their performance in the final interview, also called the personality test.
Tip: Here is an essential tip for all the fantastic women who intend to become future women IPS officers: when filling out forms, mention the cadres in order of preference and online DAF II. The same rule applies to choosing zones.
Physical requirements to qualify as a woman IPS officer
Fulfilling the criteria for physical eligibility is crucial for becoming a women IPS officer. Here are the physical criteria to clear:
Physical parameters
Requirements
Height
150 cm for general candidates; 145 cm for ST candidates
Chest
Minimum 79 cm with an expansion up to 5 cm
Eyesight
Near vision J1 for good eye and J2 for worst eye. 6/9 or 6/12 for the worst eye
Blood Pressure
Age 23 – 123 mm Hg (systolic)
Age 24 – 124 mm Hg (systolic)
Age 25 – 122 mm Hg (systolic)
Age 28 – 124 mm Hg (systolic)
Age 30 – 125 mm Hg (systolic)
Age 32 – 126 mm Hg (systolic)
Colourblindness
High standards; non-inherently colorblind candidates are allowed.
Nasal
No stuttering while speaking
Ear
Should have a great listening ability of 1000 – 4000 Hz. The permissible hearing impairment is up to 30 decibels.
Note: Pregnant women candidates (during the medical tests) are not eligible for the exam.
Physical training
One of the most critical components of IPS training is physical exercise. A candidate chosen for the Indian Police Services will spend the first three months of their two-year assessment term in training. At LBSNAA, the training is conducted (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration).
Here are some indoor and outdoor training schedules:
Indoor training
Outdoor training
Ethics, police management, IEA, PC, CrPc, classes or lectures by renowned police personnel
PT, combat training, horse riding, route marches, firearms training, cross-country runs, and more.
Candidates will also be required to travel to various outdoor sites as part of their training. The applicants typically complete a month of academic training and 6 months of specialized instruction in their specific cadre.
Criteria to fulfill for becoming a women IPS officer
Here are the eligibility criteria for appearing in the IPS exam to become women IPS officer:
- The candidate should be an Indian citizen
- The candidate should have completed 21 years at the time of exam
- The candidate must hold a professional or technical degree from any recognized Indian university.
- She must fulfill other essential criteria, such as physical ability and the number of attempts.
The number of attempts available:
- General – 6 attempts
- SC/ST – unlimited number of attempts
- OBC – 9 attempts
- Physically handicapped – 9 attempts for OBC and general, unlimited attempts for SC and ST candidates.
Age requirements (maximum age limit):
- 32 years for general candidates (with 6 attempts)
- 35 years for candidates from OBC (with 9 attempts)
- 37 years for SC/ST candidates with unlimited attempts
- Physically challenged candidates in the General, OBC, and SC/ST categories, with 9 attempts, are 42, 45, and 47 years old, respectively.
Yes, the examination is tough to crack. It takes immense and prolonged periods of preparation to clear the examination. With constant perspiration and determination physically challenged women can also be an inspiration, So, just believe in yourself and take the plunge to make your dream come true.
With skill and dedication, it is possible to become a successful woman IPS officer in India.