Understanding IPS

The Indian Police Service (IPS) is more than just a security force. It provides commanding officers for higher-level posts in the state police machinery and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). As an All India Service, IPS officers can be employed both by the Central Government and the respective States.

The exam for recruitment to the IPS is the same as for other civil services such as IAS, IFS, etc. – the UPSC civil services exam. You can check out the IPS syllabus here.

What Made Shashank Jaiswal Opt for Civil Services?

Shashank Jaiswal decided to choose civil services over a lucrative private-sector job for the following reasons:

#1: Empowerment

• Being an officer in the Indian civil services empowers you not just with power, but with the ability to serve society.
• This job legally and authoritatively empowers you to address societal issues.
• You have the power to solve people’s problems on a daily basis.
• Unlike a private job where you serve yourself and your organization, a civil service job allows you to serve society with fewer limitations.

#2: Job Satisfaction

• A civil servant's job, especially that of an IPS officer, is not a typical 9-to-5 job. You might have to respond to duty calls at any hour.
• The job demands constant vigilance and responsiveness to the responsibilities and work that come with the power.
• Despite the demanding nature of the job, a career in civil services can offer a level of satisfaction that is hard to find in other professions.
• For instance, Jaiswal recounts instances where he and his team were able to find missing children. The relief and gratitude in the parents' eyes were the most rewarding aspects of the job for him.
• As an officer, your routine work can significantly impact people's lives, even to the point of being a matter of life and death.
• Unlike in most private-sector jobs, you get the opportunity to save lives.
• While the private sector does talk about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Jaiswal believes that working in civil services is in itself a form of CSR.

#3: Service Over Job

• Jaiswal believes that the civil services, true to its name, is not just a job – it's a service.
• As a civil servant, you are serving society, people, and the country.
• People from all walks of life depend on you.
• As officers, you get to contribute to the progress of the country actively. By doing your job, you are serving your country.

#4: Salary is Secondary

• Post the 7th pay commission, the salary of IAS/IPS officers is fairly decent, not to mention the other perks.
• However, when you are in the services, salary becomes secondary as your primary aim is to serve society and make a difference.

You can learn more about the IPS Salary in the linked article.

#5: No Unnecessary Political Pressure

• Jaiswal states that there is no undue political pressure in the Indian Police Service.
• He asserts that there is enough freedom to perform your duties to the best of your abilities and that good work always receives support.

Below table provides all the necessary information about the Indian Police Service (IPS):

Facts About Shashank Jaiswal IPS

Here are some quick facts about Shashank Jaiswal:

1. Rank: 444
2. CSE: 2013
3. Allocated Service: IPS
4. Current Post: Superintendent of Police of Mamit district in western Mizoram
5. Education: Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering; MBA in Finance from IIM, Kozhikode

For more inspiring and motivating UPSC success stories , you can visit the linked article.

For more materials and articles related to UPSC preparation, visit the links given in the table below:

Related Links