How to Become DGP? Know Eligibility, Skills and Steps to Become DGP in Police.

How to Become DGP of Police? The Director General of Police or DGP is the highest rank in which one could serve in the Indian Police Service. The DGP rank is considered to be the apex rank in the elite Police Service in India. “How to become DGP?” is a common question among candidates interested in making a career in the Indian Police Services. In simple terms, to become a DGP, a candidate will need to qualify the UPSC CSE exam and rise through the ranks to attain the senior-most position in the police forces or get promoted through the state police officers. Before getting into the topic on how to become DGP, aspirants should know various aspects such as educational qualifications, eligibility criteria, years of experience and key details that are required to become a DGP in Police. Check out this article to know more about a DGP’s duties, responsibilities and how to become a DGP in Police.

• Only IPS Officers, who are selected by the Union Public Service Commission through the IAS exam are eligible to become a DGP in Police.
• Above the cross, sword, and baton is the national crest, which serves as the insignia of the Director General of Police.
• The rank of DGP can only be attained by IPS Officers and not by state service officers who join the service through the State Public Service Commission.
• These officers are appointed by a cabinet consisting of top officers in the state such as the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister.
• The role of a DGP is to head a department and ensure its smooth functioning. Some departments in Police headed by DGP are Director General of Prisons, Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Director General of Fire Forces and Civil Defense, Police Housing Society, Director General of Railways etc., which are common positions for such officers.
• Although a DGP can serve in various departments, the apex head of Police in State is credited to the Director General Law and Order (L&O). 
• Officers can also be the head of institutions in the rank of DG such as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Director of the SVPNPA, etc.

Know everything you must about how to become DGP in Indian Police Services in this article. 

Who is a DGP in Indian Police Services?

The full form of DGP is Director General of Police. It is the senior-most rank in the Indian Police forces, who is appointed by the state government and reports to the Home Secretary or equivalent senior official. A DGP of a State is chosen among three senior-most officers who have been empanelled for promotion by the UPSC based on the length of service and other factors including an excellent track record. One can become a DGP in Police after attaining promotion from the IG post such as illustrated below - 

Inspector General of Police (IG)

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Additional Director General of Police (ADG)

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Director General of Police (DGP)

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Director General of Police/Director of IB or CBI (Apex Scale)

 

The DGP is responsible for the overall administration and management of the police force in a particular state or territory. He is responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crimes, and ensuring public safety. In addition to their operational duties, the DGP is also responsible for ensuring the professional development of police officers under their command. They provide training and guidance to their subordinates to improve their skills and knowledge to ensure that the police force is equipped to handle the complex and evolving challenges of maintaining law and order in the State. 

Know about various IPS Ranks to understand the hierarchy of DGP in the Police Forces.

How to Become a Director General of Police (DGP)?

To serve as the Director General of Police is the highest order in the Indian Police Service. Young aspirants aspiring to become the DGP should have in mind that the service doesn’t come easy. To become DGP, candidates must first become IPS Officers by clearing the UPSC Civil Services examination and qualifying for selection in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Typically, there are two pathways for candidates who want to understand how to become DGP -

• UPSC Civil Services Exam - It offers direct recruitment in higher-ranking posts like ACP/DSP, after training as Junior Officer. After serving 25-30 years in the Police Forces, candidates can become DGP. 
• Promotions through State Police Service Officers Exam - It offers promotion to senior-officers working under State Police in 25-30 years. 

Usually, an IPS Officer joining as an DSP/ACP after their training should serve at least 30 years or above to get promoted as DGP after serving in various other orders. Check out the stepwise procedure on how to become DGP below -

Step 1: Apply for the UPSC Civil Services Examination

First, candidates must apply for the UPSC recruitment by filling out the UPSC IAS Application Form as released by the commission annually. All candidates are advised to select the ‘IPS’ category option in their application form as DGP is a Group ‘A’ Indian Police Force rank. 

Step 2: Appear for UPSC Prelims Exam

The Prelims exam is a qualifying round and usually takes place June onwards. This exam comprises two compulsory papers of 200 marks each: General Studies paper I and General Studies paper II (CSAT). This is the first exam stage you need to clear to know how to become DGP officer. 

Step 3: Clear the UPSC Mains Exam

This is the most challenging and toughest exam stage that can help you know how to become DGP. The UPSC Mains exam takes place around September/October. It consists of a total of 9 papers for 1750 marks as given below. 

Check detailed UPSC Exam Pattern for Prelims, Mains in detail here!

Step 4: Appear for the UPSC Personality Test

Candidates who have cleared both Prelims & Mains are eligible to appear for the UPSC IPS Interview round. It consists of 275 marks. The UPSC interview panel consists of a mixed panel of subject matter experts, psychologists, bureaucrats, educationists, etc where candidates are assessed on their interpersonal and administrative skills. 

Step 5: Complete the IPS Physical Training

After clearing all the aforementioned stages, IPS candidates are sent to undergo an intensive four-stage training course starting with a physical training at LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie). There, they need to join a 3-month or 15-week Common foundation course after which they are sent to Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad for dedicated IPS officer training. Here, district training along with various indoor and outdoor activities are conducted as mentioned below. 

After completing the 5-step process, UPSC IPS officers are allocated different cadres in terms of rank, vacancies, and preferences. Simply, they are posted as a Junior Scale Officer and after several years of service in respective departments, they can be promoted to the rank of DGP. 

Know details of IPS Officer Training in detail here!

How to Become DGP - Eligibility Criteria

To become a DGP officer, candidates must clear the three stages of the UPSC exam. Apart from meeting the UPSC Civil Services Eligibility Criteria, it is essential to meet the various educational, and physical fitness requirements that will allow them to meet the challenging demands of duty as a Director General of Police. For your easy reference, an overview of IPS Eligibility Criteria is given below -

Indian Police Service (IPS) Eligibility Criteria
Criteria	Details
Age limit	Minimum of 21 years and maximum 32 years (excluding Age Relaxations)
Nationality	Citizen of India. Subject of Nepal. Subject of Bhutan Must be a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, for permanent settlement of India. Migrants from any of the following countries for the permanent settlement in India- Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and many more.
Educational Qualification	Graduate degree from a recognized university
Physical Standards	The minimum height of women is 150cm. The minimum height of men is 165cm.  The minimum chest girth of women and men is 84cm and 79cm. Myopia should not exceed minus 4.00D. Hyper myopia should not exceed +4.00D.
Number of attempts	General	6 attempts
	OBC	9 attempts
	SC/ST	Unlimited attempts
	Physically challenged, handicapped, General and EWS category	9 attempts
	Physically challenged from OBC Category	9 attempts

Also know How to Become ACP in Police here.

How to Become a DGP - Skills Required

To become a DGP is a matter of prestige and responsibility. As one of the highest IPS Ranks, a Director General of Police is not just responsible for curbing crimes, but also for establishing effective policies and systems to make the country a safe place for the citizens. The following are some crucial skills that one must possess to become DGP in Indian Polices forces - 

• Physical Fitness - Candidates must possess a good physique, fitness, and stamina to endure the physical demands of the job.
• Leadership Qualities - As a DGP officer, one must possess excellent leadership qualities to lead a team of junior officers and subordinates.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills - A DGP officer should be able to communicate effectively with different types of people, including those from different socio-economic backgrounds, as well as maintain relationships with different stakeholders such as the public, the media, and politicians.
• Critical Thinking and Decision-making - DGP officers must have the ability to analyze complex situations and make decisions that are in the best interest of the public and their team.
• Problem-solving - DGP officers should be able to identify problems rapidly and come up with effective solutions to resolve them.
• Technical Skills - Familiarity with the latest technologies, including forensic science, cybercrime investigation, and modern weapons, is essential for a DGP officer’s job role.
• Integrity and Honesty - As a law enforcement officer, one must be of impeccable character and have a strong sense of ethics.
• Time Management - DGP officers must have excellent time management skills to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within strict deadlines.
• Crisis Management - A DGP officer should be able to handle crises such as riots, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks effectively.

How to Become a DGP in Police - Jobs and Responsibilities

A DGP has lots of responsibilities as the head of the department. The duty of a DGP is to ensure law and order in the State and ensure monitoring his own department (such as CBI). Check out the various duties and responsibilities of a DGP below - 

• The Director General of Police is responsible for the administration of the police throughout the state.
• DGP holds the powers to supervise and monitor the functioning of their department and disciplinary authority.
• He serves as adviser to the Government of the State in matters related to the Police administration.
• The DGP is responsible for the work and discipline of the police force.
• A DGP should ensure law and order and issue orders to the police department.
• He directs and commands units to perform operations during strikes, riots, and clan disputes. Such highly sensitive operations are supervised and controlled under the DGP.
• The DGP has all authority to deploy the reserve police forces during serious law and order problems.
• DGP should inform the Chief Minister of State and other authorities about his official tours or visits. 

Who is More Powerful - IAS or DGP?   A DGP is the most powerful IPS rank in State/Centre, while Chief Secretary is the highest administrative rank among IAS officers. Since the Chief Secretary is the administrative head of the State, the DGP is answerable to IAS. Therefore, in terms of power, an IAS officer is more powerful than IAS.

How to Become a DGP - Salary and Pay-Level

The DGP of Police gets the maximum salary than any other Police Officer. According to the 7th Pay Commission, the salary of an officer equivalent to the rank of Director General of Police is INR 2,05,000/-. After promotion to the Apex officer scale of DGP/Director id IB or CBI, the salary scale increases to INR 2,25,000/-. However, the lucrative salary must not attract a candidate to become a DGP, it is the sheer will to serve the public that must drive candidates to join the Indian Police Service. A DGP also gets many other benefits apart from the basic IPS Officer Salary such as the following.

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• Travel Allowance (TA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA)
• Driver
• Peon
• Domestic Servant
• Personal Assistant
• Official Vehicle
• Residential Quarters (Type IV to Type VIII) or HRA
• CGHS Medical Facility
• Gratuity
• Provident Fund (Where IDA Applicable)
• Leave Encashment
• Leave Travel Allowance/Tour Allowance

How to Become DGP - Career As an Officer

A career in the elite Indian Police Service is a prestigious and honorable one. Being a Police Officer is not an easy task and it involves sheer will, passion, commitment and dedication towards serving the society and maintaining Law & Order. The rank of a DGP cannot be obtained directly. It requires hard work and sincerity in the service for decades to receive such an elite position in the Police Force. The Director General is a major post and it is not just the hierarchy. A DGP is at the head of all hierarchy within the Indian Police Force. The rank of DGP is among great leaders in the state police and central forces. Below is the promotion list of an IPS Officer from the rank of ASP to DGP.

How to Become DGP? - Rising Through the Ranks
Time Scale	Rank	Analogous Position in State Police	Experience Required
Junior Scale	Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP)	Assistant Commissioner of Police	5 years
Senior Scale	Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)	Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police	10 years
Junior Administrative Grade	Superintendent of Police (SP)	Deputy Commissioner of Police	12 years
Selection Grade	Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)	Deputy Commissioner of Police	13 Years
Super-Time Scale	Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)	Additional Commissioner of Police	15 years
Super-Time Scale	Inspector-General of Police (IG)	Joint Commissioner of Police	19 years
Above Super-Time Scale	Additional Director General Of Police (ADG)	Special Commissioner of Police	22 years
Above Super-Time Scale	Director-General of Police (DGP)	Commissioner of Police (name of the state)	25 years

Also read about How to Become IPS Officers in detail here!

We hope that this article provides detailed information regarding how to become DGP. For more such informative content, aspirants can download the Testbook App and access resources and expert guidance for various competitive UPSC exams.