Parliamentary committee suggests separate exam for IPS

Updated on: Monday, May 07, 2012

With several aspirants joining Indian Police Service (IPS) only after they fail to get their first choice in the civil services, especially Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Keeping this in view, a parliamentary panel comprising of 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha and 31 from Lok Sabha has suggested a separate examination for IPS where candidates attitude and aptitude would be thoroughly tested so that the quality of service is not compromised.

With an intention of providing a solution to such problem, the standing committee on home affairs has asked the government to explore the possibility of conducting a separate examination in consultation with Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy for appropriate modalities.

In pursuit of recruiting IAS, IFS, IPS and other Group-A and Group-B for various services in the country, the UPSC, has, so far, been conducting a single examination. Irrespective of the aspirants choice of interest, they get into different services according to their ranking in the Civil Services Exam.   

In its report put forth in the parliament recently, the panel has questioned current examination system, mentioning that unwilling candidates into the IPS, which may not do justice to their policing jobs.

The panel stated that candidates aspiring for IPS do not know whether they will get into it or not. Similarly, candidates do not know whether they will get IPS or other services... It has been noticed that people who do not like policing get into IPS.

The matter had come up for discussion during the standing committee's meeting last month when home secretary R K Singh heard the members' concerns and promised to look into their suggestions.

The home ministry in its written reply to the committee stated that the suggestion of separate selection process for IPS would be examined.

The issue was discussed in context of huge shortage of IPS officers in many states at a time when the country needs adequate strength to face various internal security threats including terrorism and Naxalism.

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