Police Ranking & Hierarchy

The police force in India follows a well-defined hierarchical structure with distinct ranks and insignia that denote the authority and responsibility of each officer. Understanding this hierarchy is important in the context of criminal investigation and the administration of justice.

The ranks range from the Director General of Police (DGP) at the apex, through senior officers such as the Inspector General and Superintendent of Police, down to the Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Head Constable and Constable at the field level, each identified by specific rank insignia.

Gazetted Officers (IPS)

Senior ranks such as Director General of Police (DGP), Additional DGP, Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Superintendent of Police (SP) and Additional/Assistant SP are held largely by Indian Police Service officers and are distinguished by star and national emblem insignia.

Upper & Lower Subordinates

The subordinate ranks include Inspector, Sub-Inspector (SI) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) among the upper subordinates, and Head Constable and Constable among the lower subordinates, who form the backbone of day-to-day policing.