The Indian Police Service (IPS) was formed in the year 1948. It is one of the three All India Services (The other two are Indian Forest Services and Indian Administrative Services).

The cadre controlling authority for IPS is the Ministry of Home Affairs.

*. Cadre size: 3549 posts (direct recruitment – 70%, promotion 30%).

*. The selected candidates' training ground is at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.

Functions of IPS Officers:

*. Day-to-day duties, particularly in the areas of maintenance of public peace and order, crime prevention, investigation, and detection, collection of intelligence, VIP security, border policing, railway policing, smuggling, drug trafficking, economic offences, corruption in public life, disaster management, enforcement of socio-economic legislation, bio-diversity and protection of environmental laws etc.

*. Leading and commanding the civil and armed police forces in all the states and union territories.

*. Leading and commanding the Central Police Organizations like Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard, Vigilance Organizations etc.

*. Serve at managerial/policy making levels in the Ministries and Departments of Central and State governments and public sector undertakings both at centre and states, and the RAW, Government of India.

*. Required to interact and coordinate closely with the members of other All India Services and Central Civil Services and also with the Armed Forces.

*. Lead/command the force with courage, uprightness, dedication and a strong sense of service to the people.

*. Endeavour to inculcate in the police forces under their command such values and norms as would help them serve the people better.

*. Inculcate integrity of the highestorder, sensitivity to aspirations of people in a fast-changing social and economic milieu, respect for human rights, broad liberal perspective of law and justice, high standard of professionalism, physical fitness and mental alertness.